Bhopal Cyber Crime Wave: 35 Incidents Reported in a Single Day
In a troubling development for the state capital, cyber fraud continues to escalate despite ongoing awareness campaigns by police and voluntary organizations. Within a mere 24-hour period, authorities have registered a total of 35 cases across 13 different police stations, with cyber criminals successfully swindling citizens out of more than Rs 1.5 crore.
Common Tactics Employed by Fraudsters
The majority of these fraudulent activities were executed through deceptive methods designed to exploit victims' trust and financial aspirations. Cyber criminals primarily lured individuals with promises of lucrative share market investments, attractive job offers, and high-profit schemes. Additionally, they utilized malicious links sent via WhatsApp to install malware on devices, while others resorted to intimidation tactics such as threats of electricity disconnection to coerce payments.
Impact of the e-Zero FIR System
The recent spike in registered cases can be partially attributed to the implementation of the e-Zero FIR system, which was launched on December 25, 2025. This digital initiative has streamlined the reporting process, allowing the State Cyber Crime Headquarters to forward hundreds of e-Zero FIRs to police stations across Madhya Pradesh for conversion into regular FIRs. As a result, there has been a noticeable increase in the documentation and tracking of cyber crimes, reflecting both improved reporting mechanisms and the persistent nature of these offenses.
Geographical Distribution of Cases
During the past 24 hours, the distribution of FIRs across various police stations highlights the widespread nature of the issue:
- Bag Sewania recorded the highest number with 7 FIRs.
- Ashoka Garden followed with 6 cases.
- Misrod reported 5 incidents.
- Awadhpuri saw 4 complaints.
- Several areas including Aishbagh, Habibganj, Nishatpura, Shahjehanabad, Bairagarh, and Gandhi Nagar each registered 1 complaint.
- Kamla Nagar and Piplani each had 2 cases.
- Kolar documented 3 crimes.
Notable Fraud Cases Uncovered
Deceptive Sale of Old Currency Note: In a particularly cunning scheme, 76-year-old Gokul Prasad Chourasia, a resident of Kasturikunj in Bairagarh, fell victim to fraudsters who advertised on Facebook offering to purchase an old 1 rupee note. After Gokul contacted them, they agreed to buy his note for Rs 8 lakh but instead siphoned off Rs 1.14 lakh under the guise of various charges.
Fake Electricity App Scam: Premchand Jain of Narayan Nagar, Bag Sewania, received a call claiming his consumer number was being changed. He was instructed to download an app purportedly from the electricity department and pay Rs 12. Immediately, Rs 1.13 lakh was debited from his account, with subsequent withdrawals totaling Rs 2.12 lakh. In a similar incident, Nand Kishore Yadav lost Rs 3.66 lakh after a video call from someone posing as an electricity official, where he transferred Rs 12 for an ID update.
Credit Card Fraud: Rakesh Kushwaha of Pipliya Pende Khan in Bag Sewania shared his card details with a fake credit card officer and lost Rs 1.03 lakh after installing a malicious app. Similarly, Raja Gopal Reddy had Rs 1.21 lakh withdrawn from his credit card through deceptive means.
Investment Scam via Social Media: At Kamla Nagar police station, Shivam Katiyar was cheated out of Rs 23 lakh after a woman contacted him on social media and persuaded him to invest in foreign trading schemes through Telegram, highlighting the risks of unsolicited financial advice online.
This surge in cyber fraud underscores the urgent need for enhanced public vigilance and robust enforcement measures to combat these evolving digital threats in Bhopal.
