Cyber Fraud Explosion: Indians Lose Over ₹53,000 Crore in Six Years, Fake Investment Scams Top the List

Cybercrime has emerged as one of the biggest financial threats in India’s rapidly digitalising economy. Over the last six years, cyber fraudsters have siphoned off more than ₹52,976 crore from unsuspecting citizens, according to official data compiled by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The figures, sourced from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, reveal the alarming scale and sophistication of online fraud in the country.

The data covers a wide range of cyber offences, including fake investment schemes, phishing, digital arrest scams, credit card fraud and malware-based attacks. Among these, fraudulent investment schemes have emerged as the single largest contributor to financial losses.

Losses Surge Sharply Year After Year

Cybercrime-related financial losses have grown consistently, but the spike in recent years is particularly worrying. The year 2025 recorded the highest-ever losses, with victims reporting damages worth nearly ₹19,813 crore. During the same year, authorities received more than 21.77 lakh complaints, highlighting both the scale of cybercrime and growing public awareness about reporting such incidents.

A year-wise analysis shows a steep upward trend:

• In 2020, reported losses stood at just ₹8.56 crore, with around 1.27 lakh complaints.

• By 2021, losses jumped to ₹551.65 crore, accompanied by over 2.62 lakh complaints.

• In 2022, financial damage rose further to ₹2,290.23 crore, with nearly 6.94 lakh cases reported.

• 2023 saw losses of ₹7,463.2 crore, while complaints crossed 13.10 lakh.

• In 2024, losses surged to ₹22,849.49 crore, with over 19.18 lakh complaints.

These numbers underline how cyber fraud has evolved from isolated incidents into a large-scale, organised criminal activity.

Fake Investment Schemes Cause Maximum Damage

A closer look at the 2025 data shows where people are losing the most money. Fake investment schemes account for a massive 77 percent of total losses, making them the most damaging form of cyber fraud in India. These scams often promise guaranteed or unusually high returns and use social media, messaging apps and fake advisory platforms to lure victims.

Other major categories include:

• Digital arrest scams: 8 percent

• Credit card fraud: 7 percent

• Sextortion scams: 4 percent

• E-commerce fraud: 3 percent

• App or malware-based fraud: 1 percent

The dominance of investment-related fraud indicates that financial aspirations, coupled with limited awareness, are being exploited by cybercriminals at scale.

Regions Reporting the Highest Losses

Data from last year also highlights which regions have been most affected. Maharashtra reported the highest financial losses, amounting to over ₹3,203 crore, with more than 2.83 lakh complaints. It was followed by Karnataka, which recorded losses of ₹2,413 crore from over 2.13 lakh cases.

Other regions reporting significant losses include:

• Tamil Nadu: ₹1,897 crore

• Uttar Pradesh: ₹1,443 crore

• Telangana: ₹1,372 crore

Together, these five regions accounted for more than half of the total losses reported nationwide. Additional high-loss regions included Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal, each reporting losses exceeding ₹1,000 crore. On the lower end, Manipur reported losses of ₹16.74 crore with 1,807 complaints, reflecting regional variation in both exposure and reporting.

Why Cybercrime Is Growing So Fast

Experts point to several reasons behind the rapid rise in cyber fraud. The expansion of digital payments, widespread smartphone usage and faster internet penetration have created new opportunities for criminals. At the same time, organised scam networks are now operating at an industrial scale, using scripted calls, fake apps, impersonation tactics and high-pressure social engineering techniques.

Importantly, these crimes are no longer confined to major urban centres. Smaller towns and rural areas are increasingly being targeted, particularly through fake loan apps and so-called “guaranteed return” investment offers.

A Growing Challenge Ahead

The data makes it clear that cyber fraud has become a serious economic and social challenge. While reporting mechanisms have improved, prevention remains critical. As digital adoption continues to rise, strengthening cyber awareness, regulation and enforcement will be essential to protect citizens from falling prey to increasingly sophisticated online scams.