SRINAGAR, FEB 7: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a rising trend of cyber frauds targeting gullible citizens, with over 1,000 complaints involving Rs 7.86 crores registered in 2023 alone.
According to official police data, 1,046 complaints of cyber fraud were reported in J&K in the year 2023, resulting in cumulative losses of Rs 7,86,56,000 to victims. This indicates a nearly three-fold jump from 2022 when 368 cyber fraud cases involving Rs 2.7 crores were recorded in the Union Territory.
In 2021, the number of complaints stood at 152, with total losses amounting to Rs 1.3 crores. Experts point to increased digital payments and online activity since COVID-19 as a major factor behind the surge in cyber fraud.
The data reveals that hacking, financial fraud, identity thefts, phishing attempts and online job scams were among the major cyber crimes reported last year. Financial fraud accounted for over 60% of complaints.
Police officials have attributed the rising cases to lack of awareness among citizens about secure online practices. With increasing internet penetration, cybercriminals are finding more potential targets, especially in rural areas.
To counter this growing threat, J&K Police has been spreading cyber crime awareness and set up a dedicated Cyber Police Station in each district over the past year. But experts say more efforts are needed to secure citizens and curb these crimes effectively.
Indians have suffered massive financial losses amounting to Rs 7,488.6 crore due to rising cyber frauds in 2022, as per data shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Parliament on Tuesday.
With cybercrime on the rise, Maharashtra topped the list of affected states with staggering losses of Rs 990.7 crore, followed by Telangana which saw Rs 759.1 crore lost to online scams.
Highlighting the widespread prevalence, other states like Uttar Pradesh (Rs 721.1 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 661.2 crore), Karnataka (Rs 662.1 crore) and Gujarat (Rs 650.5 crore) also saw significant damage due to cyber frauds.
The alarming data underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and public awareness campaigns to combat the menace. Authorities are advising citizens to stay vigilant and immediately report any suspicious online activity.
According to the Home Ministry, over 11 lakh cyber fraud complaints were received in 2022 via the ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting Management System’.
To strengthen reporting mechanisms, the ministry has also launched the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal as part of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. The portal enables the public to report all types of cybercrimes, with a special focus on crimes against women and children. However, experts say more needs to be done to secure citizens given the scale of financial losses being suffered across states. Tougher cyber laws and safety campaigns are the need of the hour to prevent further damage.
