Alarming Cybercrime Surge
In 2024, Uttar Pradesh registered a staggering 11,073 cybercrime incidents, translating to an average of approximately 30 cases daily, or one case every 48 minutes. This marks a continuous upward trend
in digital offenses over the past three years. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data indicates that while 2022 saw 10,117 cases and 2023 recorded 10,794, the number escalated to 11,073 in 2024. This represents an increase of 279 cases from the previous year, a comparatively slower growth of about 2.6%. However, over the two-year period from 2022 to 2024, the state experienced an overall rise of 956 cybercrime cases, signifying a substantial growth of around 9.4%. Despite this alarming rise, Uttar Pradesh's cybercrime rate of 4.6 cases per lakh population remained below the national average of 7.3, ranking it 16th among all states and Union Territories.
Financial Frauds Dominate
Financial fraud emerged as the most prevalent category of cybercrime in Uttar Pradesh during 2024, accounting for 4,469 cases. These offenses encompassed a wide spectrum of illicit activities, including sophisticated phishing scams, deceptive trading and investment applications, unauthorized OTP sharing leading to financial loss, and fraudulent digital arrest schemes. Victims also fell prey to fake loan offers, cryptocurrency scams, and various forms of online banking fraud. Authorities attribute the success of these schemes to organized, interstate cyber gangs who exploit victims through tactics such as fake customer care helplines, meticulously cloned websites, the use of mule bank accounts to launder illicit funds, and the deployment of fraudulent payment gateways.
Sexual Exploitation Concerns
A deeply concerning finding from the NCRB report is Uttar Pradesh's leading position nationally in cybercrimes motivated by sexual exploitation. The state recorded an alarming 633 cases under this category. These offenses primarily include instances of sextortion, the illicit circulation of intimate personal videos, the creation and use of fake social media profiles for malicious purposes, and online blackmail often involving the use of morphed photographs. The rise in these digital crimes poses a significant threat to personal safety and privacy, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced awareness and stricter enforcement against perpetrators exploiting individuals online.
Other Motives and Victim Demographics
Beyond financial fraud and sexual exploitation, cybercrimes in Uttar Pradesh were driven by various other motives. The report details 1,204 cases linked to 'causing disrepute,' 837 crimes driven by revenge, and 212 cases related to extortion. A further 117 offenses were motivated by emotional distress such as anger and harassment, while 99 cases involved the disruption of public services. Examining victim demographics, Uttar Pradesh recorded 1,392 cybercrimes against women in 2024, placing it third nationally behind Karnataka and Maharashtra. Among these, 562 involved cyber stalking and online bullying, 25 related to cyber pornography, and 10 to cyber blackmailing and threats. The state also registered 186 cybercrimes against children, ranking third, with 124 of these cases involving child pornography and obscene content, and others related to fake profiles, bullying, and exploitation through gaming apps.
Investigation and Pendency Rates
Uttar Pradesh's law enforcement agencies faced a substantial investigative workload in 2024, beginning the year with 6,383 pending cybercrime investigations. With the addition of 11,073 newly registered cases, the police managed a total of 17,456 investigations throughout the year, averaging nearly 48 cases daily. Despite this immense pressure, the state demonstrated commendable efficiency with a charge-sheeting rate of 54%, significantly exceeding the national average of 31.9%. Police filed charge sheets in 6,644 cases, a mix of fresh and older ones. Furthermore, UP's pendency rate for cybercrime investigations stood at a relatively low 29.5%, considerably better than the national average of 61.6%, suggesting a more streamlined and rapid resolution of digital crime cases. However, a notable challenge remains the 3,541 cases categorized as 'true but insufficient evidence, untraced or no clue,' underscoring the difficulties in apprehending offenders who utilize VPNs, encrypted communication, fake SIM cards, and international digital networks.
