Citizens lost over ₹22,845 crore to cyber criminals in 2024: Govt
Responding to a written question, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, said that according to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) operated by the ministry's I4C, "total amount of losses incurred by citizens due to cyber frauds in the entire country" in 2024 was ₹ 22,845.73 crore as compared to ₹ 7,465.18 crore the previous year.
Kumar said 36,37,288 incidents of financial frauds committed by cyber criminals were reported on NCRP and CFCFRMS in 2024 as compared to 24,42,978 such incidents the previous year.
According to the data shared by the minister, 10,29,026 cyber crimes were reported on NCRP in 2022 with a 127.44 per cent increase over the previous year, 15,96,493 incidents were reported in 2023 showing 55.15 per cent increment, and 22,68,346 cases were reported in 2024, reflecting a 42.08 per cent increase.
"The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), under I4C, was launched in 2021 for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters," he said.
The minister said as per CFCFRMS, financial amount of more than ₹ 5,489 crore has been saved in more than 17.82 lakh complaints reported on it so far.
"Cyber crime incidents reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action, i.e., filing of chargesheets, arrests and resolution of complaints, thereon are handled by the state/UT law enforcement agencies concerned as per the provisions of the law," Kumar said.
Giving details of the action taken by the government against cyber criminals, the minister said so far, more than 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2,63,348 IMEIs as reported by police authorities have been blocked by the Centre.
A Suspect Registry of identifiers of cyber criminals was launched by I4C on September 10, 2024, in collaboration with banks/financial institutions. So far, more than 11 lakh suspect identifier data received from banks and 24 lakh Layer 1 mule accounts have been shared with the participating entities of Suspect Registry and saved more than Rs.4631 crore, he said.
The minister said it has launched the 'Pratibimb' module, which maps locations of criminals and crime infrastructure on a map to give visibility to jurisdictional officers.
"The module also facilitates seeking and receiving techno-legal assistance by law enforcement agencies from I4C and other SMEs. It has lead to the arrest of 10,599 accused, 26,096 linkages and 63,019 cyber investigation assistance requests," Kumar said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
15 arrested, 500 booked after violence in Pune's Yavat over 'objectionable' WhatsApp post
The Maharashtra Police has arrested 15 people and registered FIRs against more than 500 individuals after an irate mob vandalised properties and indulged in arson in Yavat in Pune's Daund tehsil over an objectionable post on social media. Pune: Security personnel keep vigil after two groups clashed over an alleged objectionable post on Friday, at Yavat in Pune's Daund tehsil. (PTI) The youth, who posed the objectionable status on messaging platform WhatsApp has also been arrested, an official told PTI on Saturday. Communal tension erupted in Yavat village in Daund tehsil of the city on Friday where several groups of persons vandalised and set ablaze properties over the objectionable content. A huge mob took to the streets to vent their ire and set ablaze a motorcycle and damaged a bakery even as the police lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Narayan Deshmukh, Yavat police station senior inspector, said 15 people have been arrested so far and remanded in police custody till August 6. Also Read: Mob violence in Pune's Yavat over 'objectionable' WhatsApp post; youth detained "So far, we have registered five cases in connection with the violence. Four of the cases are against more than 500 people who were allegedly involved in arson and damage to property. Of these, more than 100 people have been identified," an official from the Yavat police station told PTI. Police said that those involved in the incident targeted a motorcycle, two cars, one religious structure and a bakery. The police had to resort to tear gas shells and lathi-charge to disperse the mob after they indulged in arson. Meanwhile, prohibitory orders have been issued in Yavat and the situation is under control. 'Preliminary report says no planned conspiracy' Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill said the preliminary probe has not indicated to any planned conspiracy in the incident. He, however, said that no conclusions can be drawn until the inquiry is over. "Till Saturday afternoon, police have registered five FIRs in connection with the incident," Gill said, adding that the person whose objectionable post triggered the violence has resided in the village for years. The official also said the police responded quickly to the violence and brought the situation under control. "A large contingent of security personnel, including State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), has been deployed in the village. Authorities also imposed prohibitory orders under Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) section 163 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 144 from Friday night. They will remain in place till the situation is assessed further," Gill was quoted as saying by PTI. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also visited the site on Friday and said the youth who allegedly uploaded the objectionable Whatsapp post hails from Nanded and is a daily wage labourer. He put out an objectionable post related to an incident that took place in Madhya Pradesh, which angered the locals and they resorted to vandalism, Pawar said.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Jharkhand man trafficked to US via ‘donkey route' helps police bust trafficking ring
Jharkhand Police on Saturday busted an international human trafficking network accused of deceiving individuals with promises of illegal entry into the United States through the dangerous and illegal 'donkey route'. The operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals, including the alleged mastermind, after a trafficking survivor filed a formal 'donkey route' is a term used to describe an illegal method of migration that bypasses official immigration processes. It involves long, hazardous journeys through multiple countries, often arranged by unlicensed travel agents and is frequently used by those attempting to reach destinations like the US, UK or The case came to light after Sonu Kumar, a resident of Bharajo village under Tatijharia Police Station in Hazaribagh district, filed a complaint on July 30. He accused Uday Kumar Kushwaha, a villager who has reportedly been living in the United States for over four decades, of trafficking him under the guise of offering employment in to police, in 2024, Sonu was allegedly sent to Brazil using fake documents. After arrival, he was handed over to a human smuggling syndicate, along with two other victims, namely Bikash Kumar and Pintu Kumar, who were also sent via Brazil from Delhi on separate dates. The traffickers reportedly attempted to move them illegally across a series of countries: Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala, before reaching the was kept in the custody of the traffickers for 50 days. During this time, Uday Kumar Kushwaha allegedly extorted Rs 45 lakh from Sonu's family. Under pressure, his father sold ancestral property to raise the money, which was then sent to associates of Uday through various eventually reached San Diego via Mexico City but was caught by US border authorities and detained for nearly four months before being deported to India in March 2025. After his return, Sonu's attempts to recover the money were allegedly met with threats and assault by Uday and his brother. Fearing for his safety, Sonu lodged a formal complaint under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Acting on the complaint, the Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police formed a special task force led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Bishrugarh. The operation led to the arrest of five accused: Uday Kumar Kushwaha, Darshan Prasad, Lal Mohan Prasad, Chohan Prasad and Shankar the investigation, police recovered phones, documents, bank receipts and a notebook containing details of money collected and individuals trafficked. Officials also identified a list of persons who had allegedly been sent to the US via the donkey route in recent years. The police have stated that the case is part of a wider international trafficking network and further investigations are ongoing.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Jharkhand
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
UT cyber police recover just ₹15cr of ₹95cr cheated in online frauds over 2 yrs
1 2 Chandigarh: In a span of two years, the UT cyber police registered 257 FIRs related to online frauds involving more than Rs 95 crore. Despite arresting 200 cyber fraudsters between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025, the police managed to recover only slightly over Rs 15 crore of the cheated amount. This significant gap between the total fraud and the recovered sum underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling digital crimes. Cyber police officials and experts attribute the low recovery rate to two major factors. First, victims often delay reporting the fraud, which drastically reduces the chances of freezing unauthorised transactions. Second, fraudsters typically transfer the stolen money into multiple fake accounts, making it difficult for investigators to trace and intercept the funds before they are withdrawn. Cyber expert Gurcharan Singh emphasised the importance of timely reporting, stating, "Reporting cyber fraud as soon as possible increases the chances of recovering cheated money or freezing unauthorised transactions. In most cases, victims failed to report the online cheating within 24 hours. Sometimes people also come to know about the fraud after two or three days." He added that by the time police reach the final account in the transaction chain, the money is often already spent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo This data was disclosed by the cyber police in response to an RTI filed by R K Garg, founder and president of the Second Innings Association, an organisation working for senior citizens in the Tricity. Garg pointed out that the cyber cell suffers from a lack of technically qualified personnel, inadequate staffing, outdated equipment, and insufficient support from the banking system. Even after transactions are frozen, victims face long delays in getting their money back due to complex banking procedures and legal formalities. Over the two-year period, the cyber police received between 500 to 850 complaints each month, amounting to roughly 21,000 complaints in total. Monthly fraud amounts ranged from Rs 1 crore to Rs 6.5 crore. A significant portion of these financial losses stemmed from investment frauds and digital arrest scams. In 2025 alone, Chandigarh reported eight cases of digital arrest scams, matching the total number from the previous year. Most of the victims were retired army officers. Among the most distressing cases was that of 82-year-old retired Indian Army officer Colonel Dalip Singh Bajwa and his 74-year-old wife Ranvinder Kaur Bajwa, who were scammed out of Rs 3.41 crore. In another incident, retired Colonel Harmohinder Singh Puri from Sector 34 was threatened with a money laundering case and warned of imminent arrest. In a bid to prove his innocence, he transferred Rs 36 lakh via RTGS to an ICICI Bank account. Cyber experts and victims have called for the establishment of special cyber courts, similar to those operated by the CBI and NIA, along with the appointment of dedicated cyber prosecutors to expedite justice in such cases. Despite the challenges, R K Garg commended the cyber police for their efforts in raising awareness. He acknowledged their initiatives through social media, seminars in schools and colleges, and special campaigns aimed at educating residents about emerging cyber fraud trends. The cyber police emphasised that awareness remains the most effective tool against online fraud. They continue to issue advisories and conduct city-wide drives to inform citizens about the latest cybercrime tactics and the precautions they should take. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
