Bhopal: Cyber fraud has surged sharply in the state capital, with 35 cases registered across 13 police stations within 24 hours, and fraudsters siphoning off over ₹1.5 crore from unsuspecting residents. Police said criminals are constantly changing tactics, combining technology with social engineering to target victims.
e-Zero FIR reveals true scale of cybercrime
Following the launch of the e-Zero FIR system on December 25, 2025, the State Cyber Crime Headquarters has been forwarding complaints to local police stations for conversion into regular FIRs. Officials said this has led to a sudden rise in registered cases, not only because of fresh offences but also due to previously unreported complaints now being formally recorded.
Police data shows 7 cases in Bag Sewania, 6 in Ashoka Garden, 5 in Misrod, 4 in Awadhpuri, 3 in Kolar, 2 each in Kamla Nagar and Piplani, and one case each in Aishbagh, Habibganj, Nishatpura, Shahjehanabad, Bairagarh and Gandhi Nagar.
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Elderly man duped over old currency note
A 76-year-old resident of Bairagarh was lured through a Facebook advertisement promising ₹8 lakh for an old ₹1 note. Fraudsters extracted ₹1.14 lakh from him under the pretext of processing and service charges before cutting off contact. Police said scams involving collectible currency and coins are rising rapidly.
Fake electricity app drains bank accounts
In Bag Sewania, a consumer received a call claiming his electricity consumer number was being updated. He was asked to download an app and pay ₹12, after which ₹2.12 lakh was debited from his account. In another case, a fraudster posing as an electricity official made a video call and siphoned off ₹3.66 lakh. Investigators found that remote screen-sharing apps were used to gain access to banking credentials.
Credit card details misused through fake calls
Fraudsters posing as bank officials convinced one victim to share card details and install a mobile app, leading to a loss of ₹1.03 lakh. In a separate case, ₹1.21 lakh was withdrawn from another victim’s credit card. Police said such scams typically involve OTP capture, card data theft and remote access to mobile devices.
₹23 lakh lost in foreign trading scam
In Kamla Nagar, a man was contacted on social media by a person posing as a woman and persuaded to invest in foreign trading schemes. Fake profits were shown on an online platform to build trust, and he eventually transferred ₹23 lakh. When he attempted to withdraw the amount, he was asked to pay additional charges, after which the fraudster disappeared.
Evolving tactics and mule accounts
Police said cybercriminals are increasingly using:
- Fake social media profiles to build trust
- Malware links sent via WhatsApp
- Impersonation calls posing as officials
- High-return investment schemes
Stolen funds are quickly routed through mule bank accounts across multiple states, making tracing difficult.
Advisory and intensified surveillance
Cyber police have urged citizens to:
- Avoid downloading unknown apps or clicking suspicious links
- Not make payments based on unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks or utilities
- Never share OTPs, card details or allow screen sharing
- Report fraud immediately to the 1930 cyber helpline or the national cybercrime portal
Officials said increased digital transactions have expanded the attack surface for fraudsters. Technical monitoring has been intensified, and financial trails are being analysed to identify organised gangs.
