Srinagar, Aug. 1 -- Cybercrime is bleeding India's digital economy. According to a report by Delhi-based media-tech firm DataLEADS, cybercriminals stole Rs.22,842 crore in 2024-nearly three times more than 2023's Rs.7,465 crore, and ten times the 2022 figure.

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) warns the figure could top Rs.1.2 lakh crore by the end of 2025.

Nearly 20 lakh cybercrime complaints were logged this year, up from 15.6 lakh in 2023 and just 2 lakh in 2019. The trend signals two things: digital scammers are getting smarter, and their numbers are growing in a country grappling with high unemployment.

Blame it partly on UPI. India recorded over 190 crore UPI transactions worth Rs.24 lakh crore in June 2025 alone. Fr...