The network of cyber fraud is spreading rapidly in India, with the number of cases increasing from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to more than 22.68 lakh in 2024. In the era of Digital India, illegal recovery of crores is being done through digital arrest, UPI fraud, and phishing, with more than 36.45 lakh complaints till 28 February 2025 and criminal transactions worth more than ₹400 crore have been detected from online betting apps.
The increasing criminal incidents in the country through cyber fraud in new and unique ways have created a seriously worrying situation at the social, political and administrative levels. The situation has reached such a level that in the last five years, cyber criminals have looted Rs 52,976 crore from the common people through digital crimes.
Till about a decade ago, only isolated incidents of cyber crime used to happen in the country, but in the last five-seven years, since the so-called digital revolution that took place in the country, such incidents have started spreading like birds of a feather. In the three years since 2023, more than 86 thousand cases have been registered in which public money worth billions of rupees has been looted through cyber fraud. Criminals scare people by posing as CBI police officers and making digital arrests over video calls.
UPI Fraud Phishing emails stealing personal information. Online betting and apps by luring investment. Deepfakes through Artificial Intelligence. Cyber criminals are so clever that after one failure they find another option. According to a female senior officer who once came face to face with an incident like cyber crime, such criminal elements are present in foreign countries also. Citing an incident, he told how the taxi driver was using artificial intelligence i.e. A.I. Through this, they change their appearance and make the passengers their prey.
He also cited one such incident that happened before his eyes. Many of the victims of such crimes not only lose their life-earned money, but are also forced to commit suicide. Incidents of robbery through digital arrest have undoubtedly become common now. People are repeatedly made aware about these through newspapers, but despite this, people become their victims.
Cases of cyber fraud by alleging sudden gain of money or phone contact due to illegal activities have also become common. After the country’s capital Delhi, Haryana has emerged as a hotbed for such incidents. The cases of cyber fraud have been continuously increasing in Haryana for the last six years. There was a time when there seemed to be a flood of such cases in Punjab too, but in the last two-three years, the increase of such cases in the state has been curbed.
Recently, Delhi Police has arrested Raunak Thakkar, a member of an international investment fraud syndicate, from Goa. He used to provide Mule bank accounts in India for the gang operating from Dubai. This matter came to light after a resident of Rajasthan was cheated of Rs 61.72 lakh. The fraudsters used to send money abroad using fake trading apps and shell companies. So far 17 arrests have been made in this case.
In view of the continuously increasing number of such crimes across the country, a relative decline in such cases has been seen today due to the security and awareness campaigns launched by the Central Government, State Government and their administrative systems. In Punjab too, the scope of understanding among the people has increased in view of the tremendous vigilance campaign launched by the state government, banks, police machinery and administrative units and the awareness arising from it.
For this reason, common people have now started avoiding such matters. However, cyber criminals keep on carrying out new incidents by inventing new methods on the lines of ‘You put it, I take it’. For this they have laid many new traps. To maintain their system, they recruit unemployed and newly educated youth into their network by luring them through mobile and social media.
The Home Ministry told in the Rajya Sabha that there has been a sharp increase in the cases of cyber fraud between 2021 and 2025. During this period, cyber criminals withdrew more than ₹ 55,000 crore from people’s accounts. In 2025 alone, fraud worth ₹ 22,495 crore was committed and more than 24 lakh complaints were filed. The report said that in 2025 alone, cyber fraudsters defrauded ₹ 22,495 crore. More than 24 lakh complaints were registered this year, which is the largest figure till date. There was a big jump in complaints every year. In the year 2021, 2,62,846 complaints were registered, which increased to 6,94,446 in 2022. In 2023 this number reached 13,10,357. In 2024, 19,18,835 complaints were registered and in 2025 this figure increased to 24,02,579.
According to the report, the amount of fraud also increased continuously. Frauds of ₹551 crore were reported in 2021, ₹2,290 crore in 2022, ₹7,465 crore in 2023, ₹22,848 crore in 2024 and ₹22,495 crore in 2025. However, the Ministry said that with the help of I4C system, an amount of ₹ 8,189 crore was saved from cyber fraud in 2025. However, the mechanisms of government intelligence agencies have also been activated, and after quick investigation of lakhs of complaints, an amount of ₹ 7130 crore has been returned to the victims.
In case of even the slightest doubt, the officials of the banks and administrative system themselves have started alerting the people. The network of cyber crimes is so extensive that even intelligence agencies are often surprised. Even the Supreme Court once took suo motu cognizance and asked the Central Government to appoint NIA, CBI. And has also inspired the formation of coordination committees based on the members of cyber crime coordination committees.
Let us tell you that the biggest responsibility to avoid such crimes lies with the common people themselves. People should not be tempted to avoid such matters, nor should they surrender out of fear. In case of even the slightest doubt, you should immediately contact your family members, acquaintances, bank or police officers. We believe that with a little extra courage, vigilance, vigilance and wisdom, such crimes can be avoided, or their numbers can be reduced. Mobile companies’ own intelligence service system can also become an effective way to curb such crimes.
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