Cybercrime – Six people are becoming victims every 15 minutes in the Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is witnessing an alarming increase in cybercrime cases, with an average of at least six people falling victim to online fraud every 15 minutes. This surge is attributed primarily to the increasing use of smartphones, the widespread reach of social media, and people’s growing dependence on rapidly expanding digital technologies across the state.

According to the state’s cyber cell records, the average number of cybercrime-related complaints has increased over the past three years – 8,077 complaints were filed in 2023, 12,249 in 2024, and 18,706 complaints in 2025.

This surge has also resulted in significant financial losses. In 2023, residents lost approximately ₹41.04 crore, of which authorities managed to recover ₹3.75 crore. In 2024, the amount lost increased to ₹114.92 crore, with ₹11.29 crore successfully blocked before it could be transferred to the fraudsters. In 2025, people of the Pradesh lost ₹132 crore to cyber scams, ₹29 crore of which has been frozen.

While financial fraud and sextortion remain the most common forms of cybercrime, fraudsters are constantly adopting new and sophisticated methods to deceive people.