India Records 36 Lakh Cyber Fraud Cases in 2024, ₹22,845 Crore Lost: Government Data

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India witnessed a sharp rise in cybercrime in 2024, with over 36.3 lakh financial fraud cases reported, resulting in losses totaling ₹22,845.73 crore, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The figures were shared in the Lok Sabha, highlighting growing concerns over digital safety in the country.

This marks a 206% increase in reported losses compared to the ₹7,465 crore lost in 2023. The number of incidents also rose significantly from 24.4 lakh cases in 2023, demonstrating the expanding scale and complexity of online financial scams.

Officials noted that the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) registered 22.68 lakh cases in 2024, a 42% rise from the previous year. The government attributed this increase to higher digital penetration, improved reporting mechanisms, and more public awareness.

Despite the alarming figures, authorities managed to curb some of the damage. Swift action by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and law enforcement helped freeze suspicious transactions and save ₹5,489 crore in over 17.8 lakh cases through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS).

The government also cracked down on misuse of telecom and banking infrastructure:

• Over 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2.63 lakh device IMEIs were blocked.
  
• More than 11 lakh suspicious identifiers were detected.
  
• 24 lakh mule bank accounts were flagged, potentially stopping an additional ₹4,631 crore in losses.
  

To aid investigations, the I4C introduced ‘Pratibimb’, a platform that maps cybercrime infrastructure. It has already supported 10,599 arrests and revealed over 26,000 criminal linkages, assisting in more than 63,000 requests from various agencies.

The surge in cyber fraud cases underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures, stricter regulatory enforcement, and increased citizen vigilance. While technological tools are helping minimize damages, officials stress the importance of proactive prevention and public education in combating the rising threat.

“Cyber fraud is now one of the fastest-growing forms of crime. Public awareness, early reporting, and coordinated response systems remain our best defense,” a senior official noted.

The Ministry of Home Affairs continues to monitor cybercrime trends and is working closely with telecom companies, banks, and investigative agencies to strengthen digital safeguards across the nation.