Indian consumers are increasingly reporting online , but getting their money back remains a challenge. While 86% of scam victims approached at least one organization for help, 33% of reported cases remain unresolved, and 67% of victims who lost money recovered nothing, according to GSMA’s India Consumer Scam Report 2026.
The report draws on an online survey conducted by Milieu Insight between 29 July and 3 August 2026. 12% of Indian consumers said they had been scammed in the last 12 months, while another 39% had not been scammed themselves but had seen someone close to them fall victim to scams.
The findings highlight a gap between consumers reporting and institutions delivering resolution.
Which scams are affecting Indian consumers most?
Online scams were the most commonly reported type, accounting for 33% of scams experienced by Indian victims. Prize, lottery and inheritance scams accounted for 31%, while job or income scams accounted for 30%.
Scams involving QR codes or payment links accounted for 27% of reported scam types. Messaging apps were the most common route through which scams reached victims, at 42%, followed by social media at 37% and email at 33%.
The report also found widespread exposure to artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled scams. 89% of Indian consumers said they had seen AI being used in scams. AI-written messages and fake AI-generated images were each recognized by 48% of respondents, while 42% had seen deepfake videos of real people.
How many scam victims report fraud and what happens next?
Nearly half of Indian scam victims (49%) approached the police, while 41% contacted their bank or e-wallet provider and 40% reported the incident to the platform where the scam occurred. Another 36% approached their mobile or internet service provider.
An organization took primary responsibility for resolving 65% of reported cases. However, taking responsibility did not necessarily mean the case was investigated successfully or closed.
According to the report, 22% of reported cases were fully resolved with the money returned, while another 17% were partly resolved, with some money recovered. Overall, only 33% of victims who lost money recovered some or all of it.
The report highlights the continuing gap between reporting fraud and obtaining relief. One-third of reported cases remain unresolved, while two-thirds of victims who lost money recovered nothing.
Are consumers willing to share their data to prevent scams?
Despite concerns about online privacy, Indian consumers appear willing to allow institutions to use their data for fraud detection.
According to the report, 87% of respondents were comfortable with their bank or financial provider holding and using their data to detect fraud. The corresponding figures were 82% for government, 81% for mobile operators and 73% for digital platforms.
However, the findings suggest that trust is linked to the outcome of a reported scam. Among victims whose cases were resolved, 88% were comfortable with the government using their data, compared with 64% of those whose cases remained unresolved. For digital platforms, the figures were 87% and 57%, respectively.
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice.