Ghaziabad — Cyber fraud continues to surge despite repeated awareness campaigns, with fraudsters duping hundreds of residents of their hard-earned money. According to police records, since the opening of Ghaziabad’s dedicated Cybercrime Police Station in January 2024, a staggering 577 cases of cyber fraud have been registered in just 21 months.
The victims together lost ₹140.50 crore, with scams ranging from phishing and fake offers to OTP fraud and digital arrest threats.
Police Refunds 24% of Lost Amount
While the numbers highlight the scale of the problem, police have managed to provide relief in many cases. Officials said that ₹33.72 crore, around 24% of the cheated amount, has been successfully refunded to victims after timely intervention and freezing of fraudulent transactions.
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In September 2025 alone, 24 victims lost ₹6.33 crore, of which police froze ₹3.84 crore. Through follow-up action, ₹2.03 crore—about 32%—was returned to complainants. Cybercrime teams also arrested 28 fraudsters during the month.
Fraudulent Bank Accounts Under Scanner
A significant number of scams involved fraudulent or mule bank accounts. Complaints filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) revealed hundreds of accounts being misused for siphoning funds.
So far, about 400 suspicious bank accounts linked to two major banks have been identified, and verification processes are underway. Police have also warned account holders who fail to provide evidence of legitimate transactions that action will be taken against them.
Public Awareness Still Lacking
Despite continuous awareness drives, officials expressed concern that citizens remain vulnerable to cybercriminals. ADCP Crime Piyush Singh stressed that many cases could have been avoided if basic precautions were followed.
He shared key guidelines for public safety:
- Never share OTPs or personal details with unknown callers.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or falling for “too good to be true” offers.
- Be wary of fraudsters claiming “digital arrest” — police never conduct arrests online.
- Do not trust strangers on social media offering jobs, investments, or gifts.
Singh emphasized that vigilance by citizens is as important as police action in curbing online fraud.
A Growing Challenge
The Ghaziabad cybercrime statistics underline a nationwide trend where fraudsters are exploiting technology faster than public awareness can keep up. While the police continue to freeze accounts, refund stolen money, and arrest suspects, they have also urged citizens to treat online security as a daily habit, not an afterthought.
With the loss of over ₹140 crore in less than two years, cybercrime has emerged as one of the biggest law-and-order challenges for the region.
