Cyber Crime Explodes in India: Cases Jump 206% in 2024

July 23, 2025 - India is experiencing a massive jump in cyber crime. In the fiscal year 2024 alone, the country recorded more than 36 lakh cyber fraud cases, with total losses exceeding Rs 22,845 crore. This is a staggering 206% rise compared to the previous year. The information was shared by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday July 22.

More than 10,000 arrests were made in connection with these crimes.

In 2023, the loss in cyber crime was around Rs 7,466 crore, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 2024, 36.37 lakh incidents of financial fraud were logged at the official cyber crime reporting portals. This figure is up from 24.42 lakh cases in 2023, as per reports.

Nearly half of the cyber crime in India in 2024 were linked to fraudsters operating from Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, according to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (14C).

Cyber Crime Reporting

The 14C was set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs to serve as a framework for law enforcement agencies to combat cyber crime. National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) fall under 14C. The CFCFRMS has so far saved more than Rs 5 crore clamping down on 17.82 lakh complaints, shared the Minister.

The NCRP received an average of 7,000 daily complaints through mid‑2024, highlighting a 113.7% jump in cyber crime reports from 2021 to 2022 and 60.9% jump from 2022 to 2023.

Financial fraud remains dominant among the reported crime details. This includes investment and trading scams, false loan apps, sextortion, phishing and “digital arrest” scams as common methods.

Cyber Crime Networks

Particularly alarming are digital arrest scams which have become prevalent of late. Fraudsters impersonate officials over video calls or WhatsApp to force victims into paying large sums. In 2024, India experienced a significant jump in digital arrest scams, with reported losses at around Rs 1,935.5 crore across 123,672 cases — a substantial increase from Rs 91 crore lost in 39,925 cases in 2022.

Authorities attribute much of the fraud origin to international cyber crime networks based in Southeast Asia where Indian nationals are often recruited to carry out elaborate scams using pre-activated SIM cards, mule bank accounts and imposter techniques. The I4C has responded by freezing hundreds of thousands of suspicious accounts, blocking SIMs, holding social media platforms accountable and advocating stronger KYC and VPN controls. The authorities have made around 10,599 cyber fraud arrests using the newly-launched Pratibimb module which maps cyber criminal networks and tracks their infrastructure across the globe, according to Kumar.

Rajasthan Initiatives

Cyber crime in Rajasthan is a growing concern, too. In March 2024, a 21-year-old man was arrested from Bundi, Rajasthan, for training 500 youngsters in cyber fraud. Yogesh Meena ran a modus operandi recruiting young men from neighbouring villages and trained them in different cyber fraud scams such as operating Telegram channels, posing as salespersons on trading platforms and tricking people into investing.

In August 2024, seven cyber criminals were arrested by the Kherli police and a total of 18 mobile phones, four ATM cards and five motorcycles were seized. The arrested individuals were allegedly involved in phishing scheme using fake mobile numbers and ATM cards. The accused used the stolen money to buy goods and services online which they later sold at discounted rates. 

In December 2024, law enforcement initiatives such as Operation Anti‑Virus carried out by the Rajasthan Police led to large numbers of arrests in districts like Alwar and Dholpur and uncovered networks with losses of Rs 10-26 crore involving mule accounts and fake documentation. A total of 51 cyber fraud cases had been registered against the gang on the cyber portal.

Udaipur Crackdown

In one of the biggest crackdowns against cyber crime in Udaipur in May this year, the local authorities arrested three key accused linked to a nationwide online fraud network. Initial investigations reveal that the accused have allegedly committed fraud worth Rs 129.72 crore across India. A total of 719 cyber fraud complaints have been registered against them in various States.

In conclusion, India's cyber crime landscape reflects a dramatic escalation in both frequency and sophistication. Cyber crime in India surged dramatically in 2024, with financial fraud causing unprecedented losses. Public awareness, secure verification methods and tightened banking protocols remain vital. Rajasthan has responded with large-scale police crackdowns, support centres and public advisories, showing signs of reducing losses and improving victim support.

With Media Inputs