Cities renowned for their tech development, like Gurugram and Bengaluru, found themselves among the top cybercrime hotspots. Gurugram, a major corporate and IT hub, ranked sixth on the FCRF’s list, accounting for 8.1 percent of reported cyber crimes despite having less than 0.2 percent of India’s population
India has witnessed a significant increase in cybercrime over the past three and a half years, with cities such as Bengaluru and Gurugram emerging as hubs for such activities, according to a report by the non-profit Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF). The report analysed cybercrime trends in India from January 2020 to June 2023.
The analysis pinpointed common factors contributing to the vulnerability of the top 10 cybercrime-prone districts. These factors include geographical proximity to major urban centres, limited cybersecurity infrastructure, socioeconomic challenges, and low digital literacy.
Cities renowned for their tech development, like Gurugram and Bengaluru, found themselves among the top cybercrime hotspots. Gurugram, a major corporate and IT hub, ranked sixth on the FCRF’s list, accounting for 8.1 percent of reported cyber crimes despite having less than 0.2 percent of India’s population. The city’s attractiveness to cybercriminals is attributed to its status as a corporate hub, hosting global tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, IBM India, Accenture, Cognizant, Infosys, and Wipro.
Bengaluru, often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of India,” emerged as an emerging cybercrime hotspot. Home to numerous IT employers, including Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, IBM India, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Intel, Cisco, Samsung Research Institute, and Nvidia Graphics, the city’s increasing cybercrime incidents raised concerns.
The report highlighted Bharatpur as the top district for cybercrime, accounting for 18 percent of India’s overall cyber crimes. Factors such as limited employment opportunities, lack of digital literacy, and the presence of major urban centres like Delhi and Jaipur contribute to the region’s high crime rate.
Mathura, known for its religious sites, secured second place with 12 percent of reported cyber crimes. Limited cybersecurity infrastructure and the region’s status as a tourist attraction were identified as potential reasons for its susceptibility to criminal activities.
An alarming finding in the report revealed that nearly half (47.25 percent) of reported cyber crimes in India involved Unified Payments Interface (UPI) fraud. Financially motivated crimes, including debit and credit card fraud, constituted 77.41 percent of overall incidents.
As India grapples with the escalating threat of cybercrime, addressing issues like digital literacy, enhancing cybersecurity infrastructure, and implementing targeted preventive measures become imperative to secure the digital landscape.
