Cybercrime on rise in Gurugram, over 19K plaints in 6 months

Sanjay Yadav

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Gurugram, July 11

Despite awareness campaigns, cybercrime is on the rise in Gurugram.

More than 108 people in the district are falling prey to online frauds every day.

As per the department’s data, the police filed 19,725 complaints regarding cybercrimes in the past six months. Following these complaints, the Gurugram police registered 597 FIRs and arrested 788 cyber thugs during this period. They had registered 654 cases and nabbed 645 fraudsters during the entire year in 2023.

According to the police’s report, they received 11,282 cybercrime complaints in 2021, which increased to 17,913 in 2022, and 32,755 in 2023. This year, the police have already received 19,725 cyber fraud complaints within six months.

Additionally, the number of arrested cyber criminals has also increased significantly in the recent years. The Gurugram police nabbed only 131 cyber thugs in 2012, while the number increased to 216 in 2022. Recording a significant jump in the number of arrests, the police arrested 654 such accused last year, while they have already arrested 597 cyber thugs this year so far.

The total defrauded amount was over Rs 6 crore in 2021, which increased to Rs 109 crore in 2022 and Rs 210 crore in 2023. Notably, the amount duped by cybercriminals has already surpassed last year’s record within the first six months. According to the police, cybercriminals have duped people of around Rs 285 crore in 2024 so far.

A senior cyber police officer said fraudsters were luring thousands of people through various kinds of tempting offers.

The cyber police said they were working on both prevention and detection of cybercrimes. Marking some of their key cybercrime cases, the police have busted seven fake call centres this year, while they bused 12 fake call centres last year.

The cyber police have also recovered and returned over Rs 45 crore in the last six months. Last year, they had recovered Rs 25 crore from the fraudsters.

Investigations reveal that people in Gurugram easily fall prey to cyber thugs who dupe people on the pretext of earning quick money or offer part-time jobs.

“A majority of cyber frauds are carried out by luring people on the pretext of part-time jobs or stock market investments for huge profits. The police are making people aware about various steps that they can take to protect themselves from online frauds,” said the senior police officer.

“While, cyber frauds have become common, the police have also arrested 597 cyber thugs and recovered Rs 45 crore in the last six months. Of the 19,725 complaints received this year, 15,642 were disposed till Tuesday, while more probes are underway, said DCP (cyber) Siddhant Jain.