The city of Mumbai is currently facing a grave situation with the alarming rise in cyber crimes, causing citizens to lose a staggering amount of Rs1,181 crore in just 11 months of this year. This figure represents a significant 350 per cent increase in cyber crime cases compared to the previous year of 2023. The surge in frauds has been notable, with investment fraud, task job frauds, and digital arrests topping the charts in the first half of 2024.
Data obtained through RTI till June 2024 revealed a substantial spike in investment fraud cases, with the amount skyrocketing from Rs 7.76 crore in 2023 to a staggering Rs 191 crore by June this year in Mumbai alone. Similarly, task job frauds stood at Rs 36.89 crore by June, compared to Rs 40.77 crore in 2023.
In a recent development, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar disclosed in the Lok Sabha that the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, established in 2021 alongside the 1930 helpline for reporting online cyber crimes, had received over 9.9 lakh complaints nationwide since its inception. Mumbai, representing just one per cent of India’s population, accounted for 77,331 of these complaints, indicating nearly eight per cent of the total.
The surge in cyber crimes has also translated into an increase in calls to the 1930 helpline, with over 5 lakh calls made by citizens by November 2024, compared to a mere 91,000 calls in 2023. Despite government campaigns urging immediate reporting of cyber crimes, the recovery rate of stolen funds remains dishearteningly low. In 2024, only Rs 139.15 crore of the total losses was recovered, showcasing a mere 11.77 per cent retrieval rate.
Police sources have highlighted that the actual number of cyber crime cases and the financial figures involved could be higher than reported, as many victims choose to report incidents directly to local police or cyber police stations instead of reaching out to the 1930 helpline. This discrepancy in reporting channels results in underestimation of the true extent of cyber crimes affecting citizens.
Authorities attribute the low recovery rate to various challenges, including delays in reporting incidents by victims, difficulties in obtaining information from intermediaries and service providers, and the involvement of criminals operating across state and international borders. DCP Datta Nalawade of the Cyber Crime division in Mumbai emphasized the importance of prompt reporting to the 1930 helpline, highlighting its role in facilitating fund recovery and raising public awareness on cyber fraud prevention.
The rise in cyber crimes has been linked to the proliferation of fraud gangs operating from various states within India and even abroad, exploiting vulnerable groups such as senior citizens and individuals without technical expertise but with substantial savings. With essential services increasingly migrating online for improved accessibility and efficiency, fraudsters capitalize on these trends by designing scams targeting individuals in metropolitan cities.
Cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia has underscored the need for stronger cyber laws, effective enforcement, and the accountability of authorities such as police departments, banks, and social media platforms in combating cyber crimes. Bhatia stressed the importance of deterrence through punitive measures to curb cyber fraud activities and protect citizens from falling prey to online scams.
The surge in two prominent types of cyber frauds—investment frauds and task job frauds—has raised concerns among law enforcement officials, with gangs operating from different states and countries to execute sophisticated scams. Fraudsters exploit human vulnerabilities such as greed and fear, targeting individuals undergoing financial investments or seeking remote job opportunities.
With the evolving digital landscape and increasing reliance on online platforms, citizens are urged to remain vigilant and informed about cybersecurity threats. Authorities emphasize the critical role of public awareness, prompt reporting of cyber crimes, and collaboration between stakeholders to combat the rising tide of cyber fraud in Mumbai and beyond. The onus is on individuals to educate themselves, exercise caution, and report suspicious activities to protect themselves and others from falling victim to online scams.