A new report released by the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), titled "A Deep Dive into Cybercrime Trends Impacting India", highlights a troubling trend: a staggering 80% of the nation’s cybercrimes are emanating from just ten districts, mainly situated in North India. Emerging information technology hubs such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru are witnessing a surge in cyber- attacks, a phenomenon largely fuelled by the digital transformation of everyday activities, the rapid integration of AI-driven solutions, and the escalating importance of data in today's digital landscape. Cybercriminals are focusing their efforts on these IT centers, drawn by the abundance of valuable information and the possibility for significant disruption and financial profit.
10 North Districts Takes the Lead
The FCRF report highlights that states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi are significant contributors to the rising tide of cybercrime. Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, and Nuh in Haryana are the top offenders, accounting for 18%, 12%, and 11% of total cybercrime incidents respectively.
Mathura, Noida (UP): Known for phishing, investment scams, and a variety of digital frauds.
Ghaziabad & Meerut (UP): Targeted by UPI frauds and SIM swap schemes.
Nuh, Gurugram (Haryana): A hotspot for job scams, OLX frauds, and crypto-currency scams.
Bharatpur, Jaipur & Alwar (Rajasthan): These areas are seeing an increase in romance scams and fraudulent loan applications.
Other notable districts contributing to this surge include Deoghar and Jamtara in Jharkhand, along with Gurgaon and Alwar in Haryana, and Bokaro, Karma Tand, and Giridih in Jharkhand. The study attributes this alarming concentration of cybercrime to several factors, including proximity to major urban centers, low levels of digital literacy, socioeconomic challenges, and insufficient cyber-security infrastructure. The report notes that Bharatpur's elevated cybercrime levels are largely a result of its close distance to the metropolitan areas of Delhi and Jaipur, allowing scammers to easily target urban victims. Mathura, known for its tourism, has a high volume of financial transactions, making it particularly vulnerable to fraudulent activities. Similarly, Nuh’s closeness to the National Capital Region and prevailing economic hardships drive many young residents toward cybercrime as a means of illicit income.
Why Does North India Stand Out?
Several factors are driving this trend – 1. High levels of digital adoption paired with a lack of awareness. 2. Access to affordable internet and smartphones. 3. The presence of organized crime syndicates operating across rural and urban interfaces. 4. Insufficient law enforcement efforts in certain regions. The FCRF points out that the easy availability of fake SIM cards and lax Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations on online platforms exacerbate the situation in these districts.
IT Hubs Targets of Cyber Attacks
Cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai are emerging as significant hotspots for cybercrime victims. Despite their reputation as technological hubs, these cities report some of the highest incidences of cybercrime victims.
The reasons include – 1. High disposable incomes make residents targets for investment scams and bogus loans. 2. Large populations of migrant workers who are particularly vulnerable to job scams and rental frauds. 3. Tech-savvy citizens increasingly engaging in online transactions, which heighten their risk. 4. Being major corporate and financial centers, they are prime targets for business email compromise (BEC) scams and phishing attacks.
Bengaluru, recognized as India’s IT capital, reported a staggering 17,623 cybercrime cases in 2023, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all reported cases in metropolitan areas, attributed to its tech-savvy populace and high volume of digital financial transactions.
In 2021, Hyderabad recorded 3,303 incidents, with scams such as "digital arrests" preying on affluent individuals, including an 84-year-old man who lost Rs 2.88 crore. Mumbai, with 2,833 cases reported in 2021, frequently experiences fraud through platforms like OLX, a situation fuelled by its status as a financial hub. The FCRF underscores the irony that the educated and affluent residents of these cities are often the most susceptible to sophisticated scams that take advantage of their trust in digital platforms.
Rise of Cybercrime in Telangana
Districts such as Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar are witnessing a concerning escalation in cybercrimes, including - 1. Phishing and vishing scams characterized by fraudulent customer service calls. 2. Online betting and gambling frauds. 3. Ransomware incidents targeting small and medium-sized enterprises. 4. Fake job rackets specifically aiming at unemployed youth.
As per FCRF report there are many factors contributing to the surge in Telangana. Major point is – the availability of low-cost internet and widespread smartphone use. Second is a young, tech-savvy demographic that is increasingly turning to cybercrime for quick financial gains. Next is proximity to Hyderabad’s thriving IT ecosystem, which provides easy access to necessary technological tools. The operation of grey-area cybercriminal networks in semi-urban locales.
New Hotspots in Andhra & Telangana
Rural districts in Telangana, such as Jagtial, Mahaboobnagar and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh are emerging as new centers of cybercrime. Recently, four young individuals from Jagtial were lured to Laos with fraudulent job offers, only to be coerced into conducting scams targeting non-resident Indians for Chinese syndicates. The FCRF explains that economic desperation and low digital literacy in these regions provide fertile ground for cybercriminals to thrive. Investigations by the Telangana Police are also looking into the involvement of bank officials in scams using mule accounts, suggesting systematic weaknesses within the current framework. Law enforcement agencies are grappling with significant challenges. A police official from Hyderabad highlighted jurisdictional complications, as numerous reported crimes in Telangana have their origins in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Probe on 26 Cybercriminals
In a multi-state operation in 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended 26 cybercriminals, confiscating Rs 58.45 lakh and luxury vehicles from call centers located in Hyderabad, Pune, and Visakhapatnam. Additionally, Hyderabad’s Cyber Crime Unit managed to refund over Rs 14.5 crore to scam victims in 2025, arresting 37 suspects across six states. Despite these efforts, the FCRF cautions that without advanced threat intelligence, effective public awareness initiatives, and stricter KYC regulation enforcement, cybercrime is likely to continue its upward trajectory. The report calls for urgent action to address these cybercrime hotspots and victimization trends, highlighting the necessity for collaboration between law enforcement, financial technology firms, and local communities to protect the digital landscape of India.
