New Desk, Durgapur: A retired public sector bank employee from Durgapur has fallen victim to a major cyber fraud, losing ₹10 lakh from his savings despite years of experience in the banking sector. The incident has left 63-year-old Debashish Sarkar, a resident of Nadiha Dakshinayan under the Coke Oven police station area, in deep shock. Sarkar, who retired in 2021 from a state-owned bank, received a link on his mobile phone on October 23 this year. The link carried the logo of the bank he once worked for and prompted him to update and deposit financial details online. Believing it to be authentic, he began filling out his life certificate form on the site.
Soon after, he received a phone call assuring him that the process would be completed quickly. Within minutes, two separate transactions—₹5 lakh each—were debited from his bank account. Realising he had been conned, Sarkar immediately checked his account only to find that his hard-earned savings had vanished.
Cybercrime incidents in India surged dramatically in 2024, with 22.68 lakh cases reported on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), marking a 42.08% increase over the previous year. Citizens collectively lost Rs 22,845.73 crore to cybercriminals during the year, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, highlighted the growing sophistication of cyber frauds and the government’s ongoing efforts to combat them. “The rise in cases underscores the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures. Citizens must remain vigilant online,” he said.
Government Measures to Combat Cybercrime
The Minister outlined several initiatives aimed at reducing financial losses and tracking cybercriminals:
- Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS): Launched in 2021, this system has helped recover over Rs 7,130 crore across 23.02 lakh complaints.
- SIM Cards and Device Blocks: More than 11.14 lakh SIM cards and 2.96 lakh IMEIs have been blocked to prevent misuse in cyber frauds.
- Suspect Registry: Initiated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in collaboration with banks and financial institutions, the registry has received over 18.43 lakh suspect identifiers and 24.67 lakh Layer 1 mule accounts, preventing fraudulent transactions worth Rs 8,031.56 crore.
- ‘Pratibimb’ Mapping Module: This tool tracks the location of criminals and crime infrastructure, contributing to the arrest of 16,840 accused in cybercrime cases.
Rising Trend Over the Years
The data shows a sharp upward trend in cybercrime incidents:
- 2023: 15.96 lakh cases registered; citizens lost Rs 7,465.18 crore.
- 2022: 10.29 lakh cases registered; citizens lost Rs 2,290.24 crore.
The Minister’s statement highlights how cybercrime losses have tripled within two years, reflecting both the scale of digital adoption and the vulnerabilities in online financial systems.
Expert Takeaways
Cybersecurity analysts warn that the rise in cyber fraud is linked to increased online banking, digital payments, and phishing scams. They recommend stricter verification protocols, user awareness campaigns, and proactive monitoring by banks and law enforcement agencies to curb the trend.
