Bhopal Sees 35 Cyber Attacks in 24 Hours, ₹1.5 Crore Lost Across 13 Police Stations

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Cybercrime Wave Hits Bhopal, India, with 35 Attacks in 24 Hours, Resulting in ₹1.5 Crore Loss

A recent surge in cybercrime has struck the city of Bhopal, India, with 35 cases reported across 13 police stations within a 24-hour period. The attacks, which occurred between various dates, have resulted in a cumulative loss of ₹1.5 crore (approximately $200,000 USD) for the victims.

Affected Areas

According to police data, the affected areas include Bag Sewania with 7 cases, Ashoka Garden with 6, Misrod with 5, and Awadhpuri with 4. Other areas, such as Kamla Nagar, Piplani, Aishbagh, Habibganj, Nishatpura, Shahjehanabad, Bairagarh, and Gandhi Nagar, also reported cases.

Reason Behind the Sudden Rise in Cases

The State Cyber Crime Headquarters has attributed the sudden rise in cases to the launch of the e-Zero FIR system on December 25, 2025. This system enables the online registration of complaints, which are then forwarded to local police stations for conversion into regular First Information Reports (FIRs).

Types of Scams

One of the victims, a 76-year-old resident of Bairagarh, was duped by a scam involving an old ₹1 note. The scammer promised the victim ₹8 lakh in exchange for the note, but instead extracted ₹1.14 lakh from him under the guise of processing and service charges.

Another case involved a fake electricity app that drained a consumer’s bank account in Bag Sewania. The scammer claimed that the consumer’s electricity consumer number was being updated and asked the victim to download a mobile app, which led to the theft of sensitive information.

Credit card scams were also reported, with fraudsters posing as bank officials convincing victims to share card details and install mobile apps. In one case, ₹1.03 lakh was stolen, while another victim lost ₹1.21 lakh.

A foreign trading scam resulted in a loss of ₹23 lakh for a man in Kamla Nagar. The scammer, posing as a woman, contacted the victim on social media and persuaded him to invest in foreign trading schemes. Fake profits were shown on an online platform to build trust, and the victim was convinced to invest.

Tactics Used by Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals are increasingly using fake social media profiles, malware links, impersonation calls, and high-return investment schemes to deceive victims. Stolen funds are quickly routed through mule bank accounts across multiple states, making it challenging for authorities to track the transactions.

Precautions and Reporting

Cyber police have advised citizens to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks or utilities. They have also urged citizens not to share OTPs, card details, or allow screen sharing. Victims are encouraged to report fraud immediately to the 1930 cyber helpline or the national cybercrime portal.

Investigation and Prevention

The surge in digital transactions has expanded the attack surface for fraudsters, and technical monitoring has been intensified to identify and track organised gangs. Financial trails are being analysed to disrupt the flow of stolen funds and bring the perpetrators to justice.