Cybercrimes rose 41% in Guj: NCRB

Ahmedabad: Before the term " digital arrest " became a cybercrime buzzword for citizens in 2025, online cheating and fraud remained the leading causes of distress.

The recently released "Crime in India 2023" report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) highlights that, overall, cybercrimes rose by 41% in the state compared to 2022. Among the categories, cheating recorded the steepest spike at 80%, according to the report.

In 2022, the state recorded 1,417 cybercrimes under the provisions of the IT Act, the Indian Penal Code, and State and Local Laws (SLL). In 2023, this number rose to 1,995. Of the total cybercrimes registered, 1,034, or 52%, were related to cheating. The number was 575 in 2022, showing an 80% spike.

Experts analysed the motives for cybercrimes and indicated that of the total cases, 1,187 had fraud as the motive, 387 aimed to cause disrepute, and 183 aimed to extort.

Between the two cities covered in the report, Ahmedabad recorded a downward trend, from 447 cases registered in 2021 to 246 in 2023, whereas Surat recorded an upward trend, from 296 in 2021 to 397 in 2023.

Several FIRs were related to crimes such as impersonation, identity theft, blackmail, stalking, or bullying.

"The numbers should be seen as indicative, as a much higher number of applications of complaint is submitted to police agencies," said a city-based cybercrime expert.

"Awareness about some modus operandi of fraudsters has certainly been raised."

However, the expert said, cybercrime is an ever-evolving threat. "As seen this year so far, ‘digital arrest' has robbed many unsuspecting victims of their hard-earned money," the expert said. "That has forced govt agencies to launch extensive awareness campaigns."

State police have also launched several initiatives to battle crimes that target digital devices. The national helpline 1930 was also launched to address crimes in cyberspace.

Experts said that cybercrimes hit individuals and organisations differently.

"While individuals are often targeted through unsolicited links, calls, or messaging platform channels, organisations are targeted with techniques such as hacking and phishing," said a digital security trainer.

"But what connects these two is awareness of digital hygiene."

The trainer said, "Do not click on suspicious links, do not share your personal data, change your passwords periodically, and introduce two-step verification whenever possible."

The report indicated that the state had a rate of cybercrimes of 2 per 1 lakh population, which rose to 2.8 in 2023. The rate of chargesheeting of cybercrimes was 52.1, higher than the national rate of 33.9.