Bihar's 4 Districts Among India’s Top 15 Cybercrime Fraud Hotspots

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Bihar has become a significant center for cybercrime, with a near doubling of reported incidents in 2025 and four districts listed among the nation’s top 15 cybercrime zones.

Rapid Increase in Cybercrime Reports in Bihar

From January 2023 to July 2026, cybercriminals defrauded 335,807 individuals in Bihar, siphoning ₹1,490 crore. Authorities managed to freeze ₹299 crore of the stolen funds. The state recorded 68,931 cybercrime complaints in 2024, which surged to 117,812 in 2025. By the first seven months of 2026, another 114,918 complaints had been filed. Bihar now ranks among the top states for cybercrime reports and first information reports (FIRs), alongside Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.

Key Districts Identified as Cybercrime Hubs

Ten of Bihar’s 38 districts have emerged as critical nodes for cybercrime, either as sources of offenses or as primary targets. Patna is the epicenter for digital fraud involving arrests, investment schemes, UPI scams, and phishing attacks. The Nalanda-Nawada-Sheikhpura region is linked to OTP-based scams, fake bank calls, job and KYC frauds, and phishing through counterfeit customer service channels. Jamui has seen an uptick in bank KYC and lottery frauds, while Muzaffarpur is associated with social media and UPI-related scams. Vaishali faces financial fraud, Darbhanga reports online banking scams, Sitamarhi deals with SIM-swap schemes, and West Champaran experiences digital payment fraud. Rural areas are increasingly affected as UPI, QR codes, and mobile banking expand beyond urban centers. New vulnerabilities have arisen at micro-level touchpoints such as banking correspondents, customer service points, and local digital kiosks.

Drivers of Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Response

Personal conflicts and enmity have contributed to a rise in cybercrime, with Bihar reporting 1,167 cases in 2024 under the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) category, the highest in the country. This classification encompasses a broad range of offenses beyond cyberbullying. Low digital literacy among first-time internet users, driven by affordable 4G/5G data and widespread smartphone adoption, has created a vulnerable population. Proximity to Jharkhand’s Jamtara region, known for organized fraud networks, further exacerbates the issue. Local criminal groups reportedly recruit young individuals aged 20 to 30, offering high rewards with perceived low risk. The shift to online banking, utility payments, and government e-services post-pandemic has expanded the pool of potential victims. Bihar Police has intensified its efforts to combat the crisis. The Cyber Cell, led by Inspector General Ranjeet Mishra, has streamlined reporting processes to enable faster responses. Citizens are urged to file complaints via a dedicated portal to facilitate real-time fund freezes. A Zero FIR system for cyber offenses has been implemented to expedite investigations as the digital crime landscape continues to evolve.