Delhi Loses ₹2,100 Crore to Cyber Scams in Two Years

The420 Correspondent
3 Min Read

The Delhi Police have sounded the alarm after revealing that cybercriminals have duped residents of nearly ₹1,000 crore in 2025, following losses of ₹1,100 crore in 2024.
The crimes span a spectrum—from fake investments promising windfall profits to “digital arrests”, where victims are coerced into paying money to supposed law enforcement officials.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations) Vinit Kumar said that police and banks are now holding about 20% of defrauded funds, a marked improvement from 10% last year.

“Immediate reporting is key,” Kumar said. “Victims must call helpline 1930 right away, enabling us to freeze fraudulent funds before they exit the banking system.”

Anatomy of a Digital Crime Wave

Police data shows three scams dominate the 2025 landscape: investment frauds, digital arrests, and boss impersonation scams.

In investment scams, con artists—often posing as women on social media—entice victims to join online trading groups. After showing fake profits on small deposits, they pressure victims to invest larger sums, sometimes amounting to crores of rupees.

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Many of these operations are run from Southeast Asian “scam compounds” in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, controlled by Chinese handlers, with Indian accomplices providing mule accounts and SIM cards to launder stolen funds.

Fear as a Tool: The Rise of ‘Digital Arrests’

The digital arrest scam has become one of the most psychologically manipulative crimes.
Victims receive calls from fraudsters posing as CBI or police officers, claiming their accounts are linked to terrorism or money laundering. Using spoofed phone numbers, fake documents, and deepfaked videos, the scammers intimidate victims into transferring “security deposits” to avoid arrest.

“These criminals weaponize fear,” an officer explained. “They sound official, provide case numbers, and even send videos showing fake ‘officers’ to build credibility.”

Corporate Deception: The ‘Boss Scam’

The third major threat—the boss scam—targets corporate finance teams.
Fraudsters clone executives’ profiles or spoof company emails, instructing staff to transfer money or share confidential data under the guise of urgent requests.

“The messages appear authentic because they mimic real corporate IDs,” DCP Kumar noted. “One careless moment can result in massive losses.”

A City on Alert

Delhi Police have deployed 24 cyber helplines operating round the clock, alongside awareness campaigns encouraging citizens to verify digital communications and report fraud within the “golden hour” of attack detection.

Authorities emphasize that public vigilance, rapid reporting, and financial traceability remain the city’s strongest defenses against the next billion-rupee scam.

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