Cyber Fraud: The Alarming Increase and the Poor Conviction Rate in India

Cyber fraud is rapidly increasing in India, creating a serious challenge in the digital economy. Despite the government's efforts to combat this growing problem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concerns about the increasing sophistication of cyber crimes, including the recent rise of "digital arrests." However, alarming statistics reveal that less than 1% of cyber fraud perpetrators are ever convicted, raising questions about the effectiveness of these measures.

Surge in Cyber Fraud Cases

As per data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 17,470 cases of cyber fraud were registered across the country during 2022. As many as 3,391 of these cases attracted charges. The conviction figures, however, paint a bleaker picture. Of these 17,470 cases, only 129 ended in conviction. As many as 5,213 people were placed in the charge sheets and 4,778 arrests took place. Despite these arrests, only 160 accused individuals faced proven charges, pointing to a deep flaw in judicial handling of cyber crimes.

The Rising Problem of Cyber Fraud

The figures speak for themselves: from 3,353 cases in 2018, the number of registered cyber fraud cases has increased more than fivefold over the past five years. That said, the conviction rate is disproportionately low, even while the incidence of cyber fraud is on the rise. The growing trend of cyber fraud is a serious matter that not only impacts the citizenry but also presents an important threat to the country's digital infrastructure.

Government's Action and the Situation Requires an Emergency Move

Even though the government has now taken action in the arena of cyber fraud, the stats tell a different story as they say the government has to work much harder. There have been queries from various parliamentarians like Dr. Kanimozhi NVN Somu regarding whether the government has made the recovery in cases of cyber fraud or why the conviction rate is very low.

The more that cyber fraud spreads, the stronger the need is for better laws, better law enforcement, and more streamlined judicial processes. Until then, India's digital economy stands vulnerable to the growing cyber criminals' threat.

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