According to information obtained under the Right to Information Act, between April 2023 and March 2026, more than 30,700 cases of fraud involving State Bank of India customers resulted in losses of over Rs 6,313.4 crore. RTI-based data shows that UPI and online banking were the most used channels, indicating the magnitude of fraud risks as digital transactions continue to grow.
The figures also show that while the number of fraud cases has fallen, the average amount in each case has increased. SBI recorded 14,717 fraud cases in 2023-24, but the number dropped to 2,247 in 2025-26. Despite that, the amount was 1,745.23 crore in the last financial year alone, indicating a shift towards fewer frauds but higher value.
The RTI reply was given by SBI’s Fraud Prevention and Monitoring Unit to Nagpur-based activist Abhay Kolarar. It also identified West Bengal as the state with the highest number of fraud cases during the period covered, with 3,426 cases involving ₹143.67 crore. SBI does not disclose comparable figures for other states.
Among banking channels, UPI accounts for the highest number of fraud cases at 12,868, followed by internet banking with 8,657 cases. Together, these two digital channels accounted for more than 21,500 fraud cases in three years. The SBI also recorded 23,580 cases of cyber fraud with a loss of Rs 166.73 crore during the same period.
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The data points to changes in fraud patterns. Earlier cases of fraud were mainly based on phishing links and fake calls, while more recent cases include fake investment apps, screen sharing manipulation, remote access tools and cloned trading platforms.
The RTI response also highlighted the fraud involving SBI employees. A total of 303 such cases were reported in three years, resulting in losses of Rs 311.08 crore. While the number of employee-related fraud cases has come down from 114 in 2023-24 to 89 in 2025-26, last year the amount rose to over Rs 103 crore.
The SBI said it does not keep separate detailed data on the increasingly reported “digital arrest” scams or the amounts lost in such cases. According to the report, these scammers include fraudsters who pretend to be law enforcement or regulatory agencies and pressure victims to wire money under threat of arrest or prosecution.
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Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof Triveni Singh said the digital payments ecosystem has brought convenience and speed, but also increased opportunities for cybercriminals. He said fraudsters now rely more on psychological manipulation than technical hacking, using fear, greed and urgency to trap victims. He also said that while bank security systems have improved, criminals continue to adapt by exploiting human vulnerabilities and social engineering tactics.
The three-year SBI data shows the breadth of fraud through digital banking channels, incidents of cybercrime and employee-related fraud, and highlights gaps such as the lack of separate data on digital arrest fraud. The report highlights the increasing risks customers face as digital banking becomes central to everyday financial activities.