Himachal Pradesh sees ₹77.84 crore lost to cybercrime in nine months

Cybercrime has surged in Himachal Pradesh, with fraudsters allegedly swindling ₹77.84 crore from residents during the first nine months of the year. Data from the State CID’s Cyber Crime Cell indicates an increase in cases compared to trends from the previous five years.

Shimla, Mandi, and Dharamsala have emerged as primary hotspots. Of the 44 formal cases registered at the state’s three range-level cyber crime police stations, Shimla recorded 19, Mandi recorded 14, and Dharamsala recorded 11. While formal FIRs are relatively low, the scale of the issue is evidenced by more than 14,000 cybercrime complaints received during this period.

Criminals are utilizing diverse tactics, including AI-generated phishing, fake investment platforms, fraudulent job offers, UPI and QR-code scams, and social media impersonation. Common lures include messages regarding pending electricity bills or offers to increase credit card limits.

Superintendent of Police (Cybercrime) Amit Yadav stated that dedicated cyber crime police stations and cells have been established to address these threats. Authorities are conducting awareness programs in rural areas and educational institutions, urging citizens to use two-factor authentication and avoid sharing sensitive information like OTPs or PINs.