Cybercrimes rise 31.2%, most cases linked to fraud, Pg9.

Key Highlights:

• Cybercrimes in India surged by 31.2% in 2023, according to the NCRB.
• Fraud accounted for nearly 69% of all cybercrime incidents.
• 86,420 cybercrime cases were registered in 2023, up from 65,893 in 2022.
• Karnataka reported the highest number of cybercrime cases in 2023 with 21,889.

Detailed Insights:

• The rise in cybercrime registration has been steady, increasing from 27,248 in 2018 to 86,420 in 2023, indicating a growing digital security challenge.
• Besides fraud, sexual exploitation accounted for 4.9% (4,199 cases) and extortion for 3.8% (3,326 cases) of the registered cybercrimes in 2023.
• Economic offences also saw an increase of 6%, with forgery, cheating, and fraud (FCF) constituting the majority of these cases.
• States like Telangana and Uttar Pradesh also saw a rise in reported cybercrime cases between 2021 and 2023, though less than Karnataka.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Cybercrime: Crimes committed using a computer, network, or other digital devices.
• Fraud: Deceit or misrepresentation intended to cause financial or personal gain.
• Extortion: Obtaining something through force, threats, or misuse of authority.