Bihar has emerged as one of India’s major cybercrime hotspots, with complaints nearly doubling in 2025 and four districts ranking among the country’s top 15 cybercrime zones. Police data shows both the scale and spread of online fraud are increasing rapidly across the state.
How fast is cybercrime growing in Bihar?
Between January 2023 and July 2026, cybercriminals defrauded 3,35,807 people in Bihar of ₹1,490 crore. State police managed to freeze ₹299 crore of the amount.
Bihar recorded 68,931 cybercrime complaints in 2024. The figure climbed sharply to 1,17,812 in 2025. In just the first seven months of 2026, another 1,14,918 complaints had already been filed.
Bihar now ranks among the leading states for cybercrime complaints and FIR filings, alongside Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
Four Bihar districts also figure among India’s top 15 cybercrime hotspots. Nawada ranks second, Nalanda fourth, Patna seventh and Sheikhpura 15th.
Algoritha Security Launches ‘Make in India’ Cyber Lab for Educational Institutions
Which Bihar districts have become cybercrime hubs?
Ten of Bihar’s 38 districts have emerged as significant cybercrime hubs, either as places from where offences originate or as major target areas.
Patna leads in digital arrest fraud, investment fraud, UPI scams and phishing. The Nalanda-Nawada-Sheikhpura belt is associated with OTP scams, fake bank calls, job and KYC frauds, fake customer-care handles and phishing.
Jamui has seen bank KYC and lottery scams, Muzaffarpur has been associated with social media and UPI fraud, and Vaishali with financial fraud. Darbhanga has reported online banking fraud, Sitamarhi SIM-swap schemes and West Champaran digital payment scams.
The cybercrime problem is also extending into rural areas as UPI, QR codes and mobile banking expand beyond cities. New vulnerabilities have emerged at micro-touchpoints such as banking correspondents, Customer Service Points and local digital kiosks.
What is driving the cybercrime problem and how are police responding?
Personal revenge and enmity have emerged as another cybercrime concern. NCRB 2024 data recorded 1,167 such cases in Bihar, the highest among all states. The classification covers a wider range of offences and should not be interpreted as referring only to cyberbullying or similar offences.
Low digital literacy is another factor. Cheap 4G and 5G data combined with rapid smartphone adoption has created a large population of first-time internet users with limited digital safety awareness.
The report also points to proximity to Jharkhand’s Jamtara region as a factor shaping Bihar’s fraud ecosystem. Local criminal networks are said to recruit school dropouts and unemployed people aged 20 to 30, offering high payouts with relatively low perceived risk.
The shift towards online banking, utility payments and government e-services after the Covid-19 period has further expanded the number of potential targets.
Bihar Police has stepped up its response. Inspector General of Police, Cyber Cell, Ranjeet Mishra said the dedicated cyber cell has made reporting more systematic and extensive. Citizens are being encouraged to report incidents immediately through the cyber portal so fraudulent funds can be frozen in real time.
Police have also introduced the Zero FIR facility specifically for cyber offences, as authorities seek to respond faster to Bihar’s expanding digital crime threat.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
