The first 60 to 180 minutes after falling victim to a cyber scam have become critical for recovering stolen money, experts have warned.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, cybercrime investigators and banking officials now refer to this short window as the “golden hour.” Quick reporting during this period allows authorities to freeze fraudulent transactions before scammers transfer the money through multiple mule accounts.
In September 2025, Preeti Sudhakar, wife of BJP MP K Sudhakar from Chikkaballapur, lost ₹14 lakh in a “digital arrest” fraud. Fraudsters posing as Mumbai cybercrime officials threatened her with arrest and convinced her to transfer the amount. She immediately called the national cybercrime helpline 1930. Police acted swiftly, froze the recipient account, and the entire ₹14 lakh was returned to her.
A similar case occurred in Mumbai in October when a woman lost ₹93,000 while booking a hotel online. She and her husband alerted the bank and police within the golden hour, enabling authorities to block the mule account and recover the full amount.
Deepender Singh, cyber expert with Betul Police in Madhya Pradesh, told The Indian Express, “Earlier the golden hour used to be two to three days, but with UPI and instant payments, money now moves in seconds. Today the real golden hour is barely 60 minutes. If the complaint is lodged immediately, the amount is still in the first or second layer, making recovery possible.”
Lohit Matani, DCP (Cyber Crime), Nagpur, explained that when a complaint is filed promptly on 1930 or the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), an immediate lien is placed on every account the money has reached. Once frozen, the amount can be returned through court orders.
Authorities say delayed reporting is the biggest reason most victims never recover their money. Many hesitate due to embarrassment or hope that the transaction was genuine, allowing fraudsters to withdraw the funds.
Police advise immediate action:
- Call 1930 the moment fraud is detected
- Simultaneously report on cybercrime.gov.in
- Inform the bank and request an urgent hold on the transaction
Officials emphasise that even a delay of a few hours drastically reduces recovery chances, as scammers rapidly move money across multiple accounts or withdraw it in cash.
The Chenab Times News Desk