For the year 2023, Delhi registered 407 cases of cybercrime, significantly lower than 685 recorded in 2022, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data released recently.
However, victims say the drop in cases does not always mean that cybercrime is under control or decreasing. Fewer cases may also result from fewer FIRs, a lack of legal knowledge among victims, or their fear of shame in reporting it to the police.
NCRB data show Delhi leads all metros in total crimes. It also leads in crimes against women, children, and the elderly. But for cybercrime, Bengaluru registered 17,631 cases and Mumbai recorded 4,131 cases in 2023, much higher than Delhi.
Vinit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations), said, “In May this year, we started automatic registration of FIRs related to cyber fraud. We are expecting the number of registered cases to increase in the coming years.”
The DCP said in crimes such as sextortion, where the victims are extorted for money with the threat that compromising photos will be leaked online, there is an element of “shame” involved.
