Cybercrime in Nagaland: INR 15 crore scammed in 18 months; INR 2 crore liened

India reports 2,40,885 cases in five years

DIMAPUR — Nagaland has recorded financial losses of nearly INR 15 crore to cybercrime within 18 months, with INR 2 crore liened, according to data provided by the state police from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (1930).

Between January 2024 and July 31, 2025, a total of 1,040 complaints were received in the state, reflecting the growing reach of online fraud.

Phishing, fake bank calls, investment scams, employment frauds, social media account hacking and other forms of online deception continue to trap unsuspecting individuals. The state police data suggest that Nagaland, though among the lowest in reported cases nationally, is witnessing an escalation in the scale of financial losses.

In the Northeast, Nagaland has consistently recorded among the lowest figures. It reported two cases in both 2018 and 2019, eight cases in 2020 and another eight in 2022.

Mizoram, however, recorded the lowest in 2022 with only one case. In contrast, Assam accounted for more than 90 percent of the region’s cybercrime cases, with 2,022 cases in 2018, 2,231 in 2019, 3,530 in 2020, 4,846 in 2021 and 1,733 in 2022.

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At the national level, cybercrime has shown a sharp rise. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, reported 2,40,885 cases registered across India between 2018 and 2022. The yearly figures show a steady increase: 27,248 cases in 2018, 44,735 in 2019, 50,035 in 2020, 52,974 in 2021 and 65,893 in 2022.

State-wise data reveal shifting patterns. In 2018, Karnataka topped the chart with 5,839 cases, while Sikkim registered only one. The following year, Karnataka again led with 12,020 cases, while Nagaland, Sikkim and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands reported just two each. In 2020, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest with 11,097 cases, while Sikkim reported none. Telangana led in 2021 with 10,030 cases, while both Sikkim and Puducherry registered zero. In 2022, Assam was on top with 1,733 cases, while Mizoram and Lakshadweep had only one case each.

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Category-wise, offences under the IT Act accounted for 18,495 cases in 2018, 30,846 in 2019, 29,643 in 2020, 27,427 in 2021 and 31,908 in 2022.

Offences booked under the IPC stood at 8,647 in 2018, 13,800 in 2019, 20,201 in 2020, 25,384 in 2021 and 33,798 in 2022. Offences under Special and Local Laws (SLL) were 106 in 2018, 89 in 2019, 191 in 2020, 163 in 2021 and 187 in 2022.

To tackle the rising menace, the Ministry of Home Affairs launched the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) on October 5, 2018, as a centralised initiative to address cybercrime in a coordinated manner.

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One of its tools, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, was launched in 2021 to facilitate immediate reporting of financial frauds and freeze funds siphoned by fraudsters.

According to official figures, more than INR 4,386 crore has so far been saved from fraud in over 13.36 lakh complaints across India. The toll-free helpline number 1930 continues to provide assistance to citizens in lodging complaints.