Indore (Madhya Pradesh): City Loses ₹40 Crore To Cyber Cons In Six Months. Despite repeated awareness campaigns by the police and cyber cell, cyber fraudsters continue to outsmart citizens, duping over 4,500 people across the city and stealing nearly ₹40 crore in the past six months alone.
Fraudsters have used an array of tricks to trap their victims—posing as CBI or police officials, holding people in digital arrest for days, and manipulating them through fake job offers, investment apps, loan schemes, and social media cons.
Reports show that in 2024, around ₹80 crore was swindled from approximately 5,000 victims. Shockingly, the number of complaints filed this year has already nearly matched last year’s total—yet we are only halfway through the year.
However, there is one silver lining: Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya told Free Press that the recovery rate has improved. “Last year, ₹5.80 crore was recovered. This year, in just six months, we’ve already recovered ₹6.33 crore from fraudsters,” he said.
The fight against online fraud continues, but experts warn that awareness must evolve as fast as the scammers do.
50 Nabbed For Aiding Cyber Cons
Police investigations into cyber frauds have led to the arrest of over 100 accused from across the country, including more than 50 people who had willingly provided their own bank accounts—or those of others—to scammers to route stolen money. According to Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya, several of these account providers are from the city, while others belong to different states. Investigations are still underway to trace more online fraudsters and their local enablers.
How Scammers Trap You
Cyber fraudsters often target people through social media, emails, or phone messages, baiting them with tempting offers or fake links. Once clicked or downloaded, the victim's personal and banking data is stolen. In several cases, scammers have impersonated police, bank staff, or government officials to trick people. Many operate from abroad, using VOIP calls, fake websites, and foreign bank accounts to stay hidden. Police recently arrested key members of such fraud networks from Ajmer, Delhi, and other cities. The conmen often use fake Aadhaar cards, SIMs, and bank accounts, making them difficult to trace, said cyber cell officials.
High-Profile cases reported in Indore:
• Doctor loses ₹3.08 crore: In January 2025, a doctor was conned by a woman he met on social media. She lured him with promises of high returns through her fake company.
• Woman digitally jailed: In October 2024, fraudsters posing as police and CBI officers kept a woman “digitally arrested” for five days and duped her of ₹46 lakh, claiming her bank account was linked to terror funding.
• Businesswoman trapped by ED impersonators: In November 2024, a 50-year-old entrepreneur lost ₹1.6 crore after being held under digital arrest for three days by scammers pretending to be Enforcement Directorate officials.
• Cricketer cheated on IPL promise: A young cricket player from Lasudia was swindled out of ₹12.9 lakh by a man from UP who falsely promised him a spot in the Ranji Trophy and IPL.
