'Pure Fear-Mongering': Centre Hits Back After Congress Alleges Surge In Digital Fraud

Last Updated:June 02, 2025, 21:51 IST

The Modi government has touted UPI as a major achievement, but Congress claims digitisation led to Rs 6.36 lakh crore in fraud

The Congress has renewed its attack on the Centre and alleged that digitisation has robbed people of their hard-earned money. (Image for representation: News18)

Digitisation or UPI is one of the biggest achievements of the Narendra Modi-led government and it has left its footprint on almost every part of the country. Not only this, it has impressed many world leaders, who on multiple occasions, have used it while in India or have recommended its use back home like in Germany or Japan.

But the Congress has now renewed its attack on the central government and alleged that digitisation has robbed people of their hard-earned money. According to the party, 1,25,828 cases of digital fraud have been registered with a total loss of Rs 6.36 lakh crore.

Government sources, however, strongly rejected this claim. They said the Congress is misleading people by throwing around the figure of Rs 6.36 lakh crore.

“This is pure fear-mongering and creating doubt about the strength of the banking sector," they said.

The sources said there is a difference between banking fraud and digital fraud. Fraud related to card/internet digital payments is only one specific subset within a larger type of fraud. Government figures show that while total digital payment fraud accrued to 63,315 cases, the extent of financial loss because of this was about Rs 733 crore.

The sources further said the Congress had inflated the figures to create a panic, which would ultimately have an impact on both the banking sector, which has witnessed growth and also on the use of UPI that has ensured greater financial transparency and curtailing of black money.

In fact, they pointed out that there are several steps being taken by the finance ministry to ensure bank and digital fraud is curtailed. For example, the Reserve Bank of India has set up the central fraud registry for the purpose.

Not only this, the finance ministry also works in close coordination with the home ministry to ensure cyber crime is checked. As per data available in Parliament record, digital fraud has dipped — from 29,082 cases in 2023-2024 to 13,384 cases in 2024-2025. Losses have come down from Rs 177 crore to Rs 107 crore in the same period. The Congress is spreading fake news, which needs to be countered, the sources added.

Pallavi Ghosh

Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als...Read More

Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als...

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News politics 'Pure Fear-Mongering': Centre Hits Back After Congress Alleges Surge In Digital Fraud