- In the past six years, Indians have lost over Rs 52,976 crore to fraud and cyber crimes linked to cheating, according to new data from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Home Ministry, as reported by The Indian Express.
- This data, sourced from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, highlights a wide range of financial crimes, including investment scams, phishing attacks, ‘digital arrest’ schemes, and credit card fraud.
- What the latest year shows The most significant increase in losses was seen in 2025.
- In 2025, losses reached Rs 19,812.96 crore, with 21,77,524 complaints related to cheating (as noted by The Indian Express).
- In 2024, losses were Rs 22,849.49 crore, with 19,188,52 complaints (as cited).
In the past six years, Indians have lost over Rs 52,976 crore to fraud and cyber crimes linked to cheating, according to new data from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Home Ministry, as reported by The Indian Express.
This data, sourced from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, highlights a wide range of financial crimes, including investment scams, phishing attacks, ‘digital arrest’ schemes, and credit card fraud.
What the latest year shows
The most significant increase in losses was seen in 2025.
In 2025, losses reached Rs 19,812.96 crore, with 21,77,524 complaints related to cheating (as noted by The Indian Express).
In 2024, losses were Rs 22,849.49 crore, with 19,188,52 complaints (as cited).
In 2023, the losses amounted to Rs 7,463.2 crore, with 13,103,61 complaints (as cited).
In 2022, losses were Rs 2,290.23 crore, with 69,44,46 complaints (as cited).
In 2021, losses totaled Rs 551.65 crore, with 2,62,846 complaints (as cited).
In 2020, losses were Rs 8.56 crore, with 12,77,46 complaints (as cited).
Where the money went
Breaking down the losses: 77% came from investment schemes, 8% from digital arrest scams, 7% from credit card fraud, 4% from sextortion, 3% from e-commerce fraud, and 1% from app/malware-based fraud.
This distribution sends a troubling message: most victims aren’t just “clicking the wrong link” — they’re being lured in by promises of quick and easy returns.
Which states were hit hardest
An analysis of last year’s complaints revealed that Maharashtra experienced the highest financial losses from cheating-related offenses, according to The Indian Express.
Here are the top states by losses (with complaints as reported by The Indian Express):
Maharashtra: Rs 3,203 crore; 28,33,20 complaints
Karnataka: Rs 2,413 crore; 21,32,28 complaints
Tamil Nadu: Rs 1,897 crore; 12,32,90 complaints
Uttar Pradesh: Rs 1,443 crore; 27,52,64 complaints
Telangana: Rs 1,372 crore; 95,000 complaints
Together, these five states make up over half of the national total, as an official shared with The Indian Express — indicating that densely populated areas with high transaction rates and strong digital connections are bearing the brunt of the impact.
Other significant losses reported include Gujarat (Rs 1,312.26 crore), Delhi (Rs 1,163 crore), and West Bengal (Rs 1,073.98 crore). Manipur saw losses of Rs 16.74 crore, accompanied by 1,807 complaints, according to The Indian Express.
The offshore angle: Southeast Asia in the mix
Data from the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) revealed that there were around 21 crore cyber fraud complaints in 2025, with 45% of these coming from Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, as reported by The Indian Express.
The breakdown of this dataset highlights the major categories of fraud:
– 36% investment frauds
– 27% credit card fraud
– 18% sextortion
– 10% e-commerce fraud
– 6% digital arrest
– 3% app/malware-based fraud
Why this is rising
Investigators referenced by The Indian Express point to several overlapping factors: the rapid shift to digital, an increase in online payments, and the rise of scam networks that have become quite sophisticated — complete with scripted calls, fake apps, “investment advisors,” and aggressive social engineering tactics.
This trend isn’t limited to just big cities anymore. Officials are noting a rise in fraudulent activities in smaller towns and rural areas as well, particularly through deceptive loan apps and “guaranteed return” investment schemes.