India grapples with soaring cybercrime as cases jump 140% in 5 years

India is facing a sharp rise in cybercrime, with registered cases soaring from 27,248 in 2018 to 65,893 in 2022, marking a more than 140% increase in just five years. The data was released by the Ministry of Home Affairs in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

While the report was issued in the context of crimes against the elderly, the Ministry clarified that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not currently maintain specific data on senior citizen victims.

In response to the growing digital threat, the Central Government has intensified its efforts through a multi-pronged strategy. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has been established to spearhead a coordinated national response.

A key success has been the ‘1930’ toll-free helpline and the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System. This initiative has been instrumental in saving over Rs 5,489 Crore from being lost to fraudsters across more than 17.82 lakh complaints. Citizens are encouraged to report all incidents on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in).

To disrupt criminal operations, authorities have blocked over 9.42 lakh fraudulent SIM cards and 2.63 lakh mobile handsets.

The government is also running extensive public awareness campaigns, using social media handle ‘@CyberDost’, caller tunes, and SMS alerts to educate citizens on preventing digital scams. This dual approach of robust enforcement and public education aims to create a safer digital environment for all Indians.