Indians lost more than Rs 52,976 crore to frauds and cheating-linked cyber crimes over the last six years, according to fresh data compiled by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Home Ministry, as cited by The Indian Express.
The data, drawn from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, captures a broad mix of financial crimes, from investment traps and phishing to 'digital arrest' scams and card fraud.
What the latest year shows
The spike is most visible in 2025.
2025: losses of Rs 19,812.96 crore; 21,77,524 cheating-related fraud complaints received (as per the data cited by The Indian Express).
2024: losses of Rs 22,849.49 crore; 19,188,52 complaints (as cited).
2023: losses of Rs 7,463.2 crore; 13,103,61 complaints (as cited).
2022: losses of Rs 2,290.23 crore; 69,44,46 complaints (as cited).
2021: losses of Rs 551.65 crore; 2,62,846 complaints (as cited).
2020: losses of Rs 8.56 crore; 12,77,46 complaints (as cited).
Note: The complaint figures are reproduced as reported by The Indian Express from the portal data.
Where the money went
For 2025, The Indian Express cited a category split that shows how concentrated the damage is:
77% of losses: investment schemes
8%: digital arrest
7%: credit card fraud
4%: sextortion
3%: e-commerce fraud
1%: app/malware-based fraud
That distribution carries an uncomfortable message: most victims aren’t “clicking the wrong link” — they’re being sold a story of fast, easy returns.
Which states were hit hardest
An analysis of last year’s complaints showed Maharashtra recorded the highest monetary losses in cheating-related offences, The Indian Express reported.
Top states by losses (with complaints as cited by The Indian Express):
Maharashtra: Rs 3,203 crore; 28,33,20 complaints
Karnataka: Rs 2,413 crore; 21,32,28 complaints
Tamil Nadu: Rs 1,897 crore; 12,32,90 complaints
Uttar Pradesh: Rs 1,443 crore; 27,52,64 complaints
Telangana: Rs 1,372 crore; 95,000 complaints
Together, these five states account for more than half of the national total, an official told The Indian Express — a sign that dense, high-transaction, digitally connected populations are taking the brunt.
Other large losses cited include Gujarat (Rs 1,312.26 crore), Delhi (Rs 1,163 crore) and West Bengal (Rs 1,073.98 crore). Manipur recorded Rs 16.74 crore in losses with 1,807 complaints, The Indian Express reported.
The offshore angle: Southeast Asia in the mix
Data from the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) showed around 21 crore cyber fraud complaints in 2025, with 45% originating from Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, according to The Indian Express.
The same dataset’s breakup (as cited) flags the biggest buckets:
36% investment frauds
27% credit card fraud
18% sextortion
10% e-commerce
6% digital arrest
3% app/malware-based fraud
Why this is rising
Investigators cited by The Indian Express point to overlapping drivers: rapid digitisation, more online payments, and scam networks that have become industrial — scripted calls, fake apps, “investment advisors,” and high-pressure social engineering.
The shift is no longer just metro-heavy. Officials say smaller towns and rural areas are also seeing a rise, especially via fraudulent loan apps and “guaranteed return” investment pitches.
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