Odisha Sees a Notable Increase in Cybercrime Incidents in 2023

Bhubaneswar, Dec 9 (NationPress) A total of 2,348 cybercrime incidents have been documented in Odisha for the year 2023, as reported by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the state Assembly on Monday.

In response to a query from BJD leader Ranendra Pratap Swain, CM Majhi stated that 1,983 cybercrime cases were filed in 2022, indicating an increase to 2,348 cases in the last year.

Additionally, cyber fraudsters have swindled gullible victims out of over Rs 47 crore in 2023, up from over Rs 37 crore in 2022.

The police successfully recovered Rs 1,52,59,965 while Rs 2,27,73,352 has been frozen from the total fraud amount during 2023.

According to data shared in the assembly, 1,362 cases out of the total 2,348 cybercrime incidents were linked to financial fraud involving cryptocurrency in 2023. The state recorded 1,142 cases related to financial fraud with crypto in 2022.

Moreover, 27 cases related to hacking frauds were reported during this period.

Authorities have apprehended 963 individuals in the state across 2022 and 2023 for their alleged roles in various cybercrime incidents.

While addressing another inquiry from Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, CM Majhi made alarming disclosures regarding the rapid escalation of online trading fraud cases in the state over the past six years.

The state recorded only 18 cases of online fraud in 2019, which surged to 472 cases by November 30, 2024, marking an increase of nearly 26 times in online trading fraud cases during this timeframe.

Furthermore, the number of victims has multiplied significantly from 2019 to 2024. A total of 40,270 individuals have been ensnared by cyber fraudsters by the end of November this year, in stark contrast to only 18 victims in 2019.

In total, 59,437 people have fallen prey to cybercrime through online trading fraud between 2019 and November 2024.