Delhi residents lose Rs 1,487 cr to cyber crooks in 11 years

Every few minutes in Delhi, someone is losing money they may never recover—a pensioner tricked into sharing an OTP, a trader duped by fraudulent payment screenshots, or a youngster lured into a fake investment app that vanishes overnight.

Between 2014 and June 30, 2025, such cyber financial frauds have stripped Delhiites of an astonishing Rs 1,487.37 crore, official data tabled in Parliament on Tuesday revealed.

The year 2024 alone saw an unprecedented Rs 817.65 crore vanish into the hands of cyber criminals — the highest ever annual loss, according to figures shared by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, citing Delhi Police records.

The numbers starkly illustrate a relentless rise: just Rs 2.63 crore was reported lost in 2014, which soared to Rs 91.04 crore by 2021, Rs 231.23 crore in 2022, Rs 183.56 crore in 2023, and then the massive spike in 2024. Already, 2025 is on track to be another grim year, with over Rs 70 crore lost in the first six months alone.

Authorities say the surge reflects the evolution of scams, moving from crude phishing emails to sophisticated attacks exploiting digital payments, online banking, and social media. "The methods have become smarter, faster, and more convincing," a senior Delhi Police cyber unit officer said.

The Centre has responded with initiatives like the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a national reporting portal, and a rapid-response system to block suspicious transactions.

Delhi Police has expanded its cybercrime wings, setting up a dedicated cyber police station in each of the capital’s 15 districts, along with specialised help desks for women targeted in online crimes.

But as the scams get sharper, experts warn that technology alone will not stop the losses -- awareness, vigilance, and timely reporting remain the city’s best defence.