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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 725
ANSWERED ON 05/02/2026
COMPLAINTS FROM INDIAN FAMILIES ON CYBER THREATENING AND
BLACKMAILING
725. SHRI R. GIRIRAJAN
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether Government has received complaints from distressed Indian families living abroad
on cyber threatening and blackmailing;
(b) if so, the number of such cases reported during the last five years, State-wise;
(c) the existing policy framework, including support under the Indian Community Welfare Fund
(ICWF); and
(d) whether Government proposes to review, streamline and strengthen repatriation procedures,
funding support and embassy guidelines to ensure compassionate and affordable assistance to
affected families?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of complaints received
from distressed Indian families living abroad on cyber threatening and blackmailing, during the
last five years, year-wise is:
Sr. No. Country Name 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
1 Australia 0 0 0 0 5
2 Cambodia 0 44 207 982 1300
3 Canada 0 0 0 3 5
4 Denmark 0 0 0 0 1
5 Germany 0 0 0 0 15
6 Japan 0 0 0 0 7
7 Latvia 0 0 0 0 1
8 Myanmar 0 399 83 203 1863
9 Sri Lanka 0 0 0 200 50
10 United Kingdom 0 0 1 0 0
11 USA 0 0 0 8 613
1(c) & (d) The Government has set up several mechanisms to reach out to distressed Indians
abroad. The e-Migrate web portal, MADAD portal, Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana, Pravasi
Bhartiya Sahayata Kendras, 24x7 Helplines, Open Houses at Indian Missions and Posts, etc. are
some of such important mechanisms.
ICWF has been set up in all Indian Missions and Posts abroad to meet the contingency
expenditure incurred by them for carrying out various on-site welfare activities for Overseas
Indian citizens on a means-tested basis. The ICWF guidelines have been comprehensively
revised w.e.f. September 1, 2017. The revised guidelines have considerably expanded the scope
of on-site welfare activities for the benefit of distressed Indian nationals that could be extended
through the Fund. The guidelines cover three key areas namely Assisting Overseas Indian
nationals in distress situations, Welfare activities and Improvement in Consular services. They
also include provisions for legal assistance in countries with sizeable Indian diaspora, payment of
fines/penalty for petty crimes for release of prisoners and assistance to distressed Indian women
abroad.
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