How Many Cyber Crimes Were Registered in 2024?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 22.68 lakh cybercrime incidents reported in 2024.
- Losses to citizens reached Rs 22,845 crore.
- Government blocked 11.14 lakh SIM cards to combat fraud.
- Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System saved Rs 7,130 crore.
- Suspect Registry tracks over 18.43 lakh identifiers.
New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) A staggering 22.68 lakh incidents of cybercrime were documented in 2024 via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), representing a 42.08% increase compared to the prior year, according to data released by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday.
Throughout 2024, citizens suffered losses amounting to Rs 22,845.73 crore due to cybercriminal activities, as revealed by Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar during a Lok Sabha session.
He noted that the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), initiated in 2021, has successfully thwarted losses exceeding Rs 7,130 crore across more than 23.02 lakh complaints.
To combat cyber fraud, the Government of India has blocked over 11.14 lakh SIM cards and 2.96 lakh IMEIs, as reported by police authorities.
The Minister also announced the launch of a Suspect Registry comprising identifiers of cybercriminals by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) on September 10, 2024, in partnership with banks and financial institutions.
He added that more than 18.43 lakh suspect identifier data has been collected from banks, resulting in 24.67 lakh Layer 1 mule accounts being shared with participating entities of the Suspect Registry, leading to transaction denials worth Rs 8,031.56 crore.
The 'Pratibimb' module, which maps the locations of criminals and their infrastructure, has aided in the apprehension of 16,840 suspects, the Minister stated.
For context, in 2023, there were 15.96 lakh cybercrime incidents recorded on the NCRP, denoting an increase of 55.15% from the previous year, with losses to citizens amounting to Rs 7,465.18 crore.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar mentioned that in 2022, 10.29 lakh cyber crimes were registered, causing losses of Rs 2,290.24 crore.
The number of such incidents was 4.52 lakh in 2021.
Responding to a query from Ajay Kumar Mandal in Lok Sabha, the Minister stated that the MHA has established the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) as an entity dedicated to addressing all forms of cybercrime in a coordinated and thorough manner.
He explained that the handling of cybercrime reports on the NCRP, their transformation into FIRs, and follow-up actions including filing charge sheets, arrests, and complaint resolutions are conducted by state and UT law enforcement agencies in accordance with legal provisions.