RBI Tightens Cybersecurity: All Banks Required to Integrate DoT’s FRI Tool
In a significant move to curb digital financial fraud, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated all banks to adopt the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) system. The decision, issued on June 30, 2025, marks a new chapter in India’s fight against cybercrime, ensuring real-time risk assessment for mobile numbers used in banking transactions.
DoT FRI
The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator is a comprehensive risk tagging mechanism that classifies mobile numbers into “Medium,” “High,” and “Very High” risk categories. This classification is based on data aggregated from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, the Chakshu citizen reporting platform, and intelligence feeds from banks and financial entities. Mobile numbers flagged under these risk categories are compiled into a constantly updated Mobile Number Revocation List.
Cyber Fraud
As India experiences rapid growth in Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, the incidence of cyber-enabled banking fraud has also risen. The RBI’s directive ensures that banks can act proactively. When a flagged mobile number is used during a transaction, the FRI system alerts the bank in real time, enabling it to hold, block, or further verify the transaction—thereby protecting customers from unauthorized or suspicious fund transfers.
Bank Security
All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks, and Co-operative Banks are now required to integrate the FRI system via secure APIs provided by DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform. This integration allows seamless data sharing and prompt feedback loops, helping banks refine their internal fraud detection mechanisms while aligning with a unified national standard.
This initiative is part of a broader push by the RBI towards a zero-trust cybersecurity architecture. It follows earlier steps, such as encouraging banks to migrate to secure domains like “.bank.in” and tightening third-party vendor controls in critical banking functions.
What This Means for Consumers
For bank customers, the adoption of the FRI system means enhanced protection without compromising transaction speed. Suspicious activity linked to high-risk mobile numbers can now be blocked or flagged before any money is lost. It represents a shift from reactive to preventive fraud management.
Looking Ahead
The RBI’s directive is expected to set a new industry benchmark for cyber resilience and regulatory coordination. By aligning financial security frameworks with telecom intelligence, India is moving toward a more integrated and responsive defense against digital threats.
