Muzaffarpur has become an alarming epicentre of cybercrime, and the case reportedly shows that the cyber criminals have defrauded 25.6 crore from residents in the last ten months. The authorities indicate that every month, 411 individuals are victims of cyber fraud, which accounts for 4,128 individuals who were victims of cyber fraud. It is 1.5 times more extensive than in 2024, which suggests the sophistication and spread of cybercriminals in the district.
APK files and investment scams are the main tools that are used by cyber criminals in Muzaffarpur. The files containing the APK are used in the form of traffic challans, government schemes, wedding invitations, or alluring applications. Upon download, the files affect the mobile phone of the victim in a negative way by enabling criminals to gain access to sensitive information and bank accounts. Approximately 40 per cent of all the cybercrimes in the district involve APK-based fraud. The second most common approach is investment scams, where fraudsters attract victims to immediate riches by trading in stocks, having them invest in cryptocurrencies or take on online employment. Criminals would give small returns first to win the trust of the victim and then drain off the huge amounts of money. Others observed are digital arrest scams, employment scams, trading scams, AEPS and UPI scams, call merging scams, internet banking scams and fake online profiles.
The Cyber Police Station at Muzaffarpur has been aggressively probing into cases. More than a dozen cybercriminals have been arrested in the last ten months, and over 400 million rupees of fraud have been frozen by the law enforcers in bank accounts. This has seen a payment of 50 lakh directly back to victims, which is approximately 17 per cent recovered. The 82 per cent of the stolen money that is yet to be recovered is another indicator of the difficulties that governments are having in fighting cybercrime. Cyber DSP Himanshu Kumar has advised people to be cautious on the internet, and on cell phones, they should switch off auto-downloads and call 1930 to report any suspicious activity.
The cyber frauds of Muzaffarpur are a part of the bigger Bihar trend. The cyber fraud in the state amounted to 394 crore and more than 330 notable cases of digital arrests in 2024 alone. The district is a district that recorded almost 20 crore in losses, so it is a haven for cybercriminal activities. The increase in cybercrime is an important factor that prompts more people to be more alert. It is recommended that residents take care, especially when downloading applications or investing online. It is hoped that by timely reporting and further police efforts, the number of losses will be minimized, and more cybercriminals will face justice.
