A recent study conducted by a startup affiliated with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has revealed that Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh have emerged as the new epicentres of cybercrime in India, replacing Jamtara in Jharkhand and Nuh in Haryana.

The study highlights a surprising fact – 80 per cent of cybercrime incidents in India are directly linked to these top 10 districts.

The Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), a non-profit startup incubated at IIT Kanpur, has documented these findings in their latest comprehensive white paper titled ‘A Deep Dive into Cybercrime Trends Impacting India.’

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The top contributors to cybercrime cases in India are as follows: Bharatpur (18%), Mathura (12%), Nuh (11%), Deoghar (10%), Jamtara (9.6%), Gurugram (8.1%), Alwar (5.1%), Bokaro (2.4%), Karma Tand (2.4%), and Giridih (2.3%). Collectively, these districts account for 80% of reported cybercrime incidents, as claimed by the FCRF.

Harshvardhan Singh, co-founder of FCRF, explained, “Our analysis focuses on the top 10 districts in India that are prone to cybercrime. As identified in the white paper, understanding the key factors contributing to cybercrime in these districts is essential for devising effective prevention and mitigation strategies.”

Singh further pointed out that the vulnerability of these districts to cybercrime emerges from common factors such as geographical proximity to major urban centres, inadequate cybersecurity infrastructure, economic challenges, and low digital literacy.

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He emphasised the importance of addressing these issues through targeted awareness campaigns, bolstered law enforcement resources, and educational initiatives to reduce cybercrime rates and enhance India’s overall cybersecurity landscape.

The FCRF study also noted that while established cybercrime hubs continue to pose significant threats, the emergence of new hotspots demands proactive measures from both the public and authorities.

These regions are witnessing a surge in various forms of digital criminal activity, often catching law enforcement agencies and the general public off guard.

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Regarding the reasons behind the increase in such cases, the non-profit organisation pointed to a complex interplay of factors. These include low technical barriers that allow individuals with limited expertise to engage in cybercrime using readily available hacking tools and malware.

In addition, inadequate Know Your Customer (KYC) and verification processes on online platforms enable criminals to create fake identities, making it challenging for law enforcement agencies to trace them.