Patna: In the first four months of 2026, Bihar recorded a staggering 59,579 complaints of cyber financial fraud on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). This places the state fourth in the country for online cyber crime complaints and FIRs registered since 2024.
Financial Impact and Recovery
The total amount reported lost to cyber fraud stood at Rs 199 crore. Of this, Rs 51 crore (26.04%) was placed on hold, and Rs 7 crore has already been refunded to victims. The formation of the Cyber Crime and Security Unit (CCSU) last year has led to significant enforcement actions.
Arrests and Mule Account Crackdown
From January to April 2026, a total of 602 cybercriminals were arrested, compared to 1,098 in all of 2025. In a special drive against mule accounts, 1,216 such accounts were identified. The CCSU reported a sharp rise in helpline usage, complaints, and enforcement actions during this period.
Helpline and Complaint Surge
Additional Director General (ADG) of CCSU Amrit Raj stated, "After implementing the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) facility at the 1930 call centre in February 2026, average daily calls jumped from 5,500 to 8,100, a 46% increase. The average number of online complaints related to cyber financial fraud also rose from 295 to 430 per day."
Legal Actions and Bank Staff Involvement
Police in various districts registered 122 FIRs and took legal action against 234 persons, including five bank officials or staff. Another 5,035 suspected Layer-1 mule accounts were flagged. Twenty-two bank branches with the highest number of mule accounts have been identified, and the involvement of bank employees is under investigation.
Fake Document Racket
The unit tracked 815 users, retailers, and distributors issuing fake Aadhaar, PAN, ration card, voter ID, and residence certificates through illegal websites. Forty-one FIRs were registered and 67 cybercriminals arrested. Police seized 11 biometric scanners, 7 iris scanners, silicon fingerprints from three districts, and a large cache of electronic devices and forged documents.
SIM Box Crackdown
In Madhubani, four cybercriminals were arrested for operating SIM boxes. Seven SIM boxes, 167 mobiles, 44 SIMs, and other electronics were seized. This case led to the country's first detection of a SIM box operating as software, aiding Haryana Police in nabbing four SIM boxes in Gurugram.
Blocked Numbers and IMEIs
Based on NCRP complaints, 4,147 mobile numbers and 638 IMEIs have been blocked. Additionally, 162 suspicious PoS (point of sale) agents selling fake SIMs have been identified for verification. A PoS agent is an individual who operates or owns a local point-of-sale terminal, such as a micro-ATM, card-swiping machine, or telecom/SIM card outlet.
Cyberslavery and Other Crimes
On inputs from I4C (Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs), verification is underway for 1,600 non-resident passengers who travelled to Southeast Asian countries and may be victims of cyberslavery. Legal action is being taken against 39 suspected agents. Three persons were arrested in Patna and Vaishali for storing, viewing, and uploading obscene videos or photos after inputs from NCRP. Five cybercriminals were arrested for illegally selling citizens' sensitive personal data, including name, address, Aadhaar, and PAN numbers, with cases registered in Saran, Muzaffarpur, and Purnia cyber police stations.
Social Media Takedowns
The CCSU ADG added, "The CCSU took down 659 objectionable posts from social media platforms this year, which is 80% of the total takedowns done in all of 2025." Officials said coordinated action with banks, telecom firms, and I4C has improved detection and victim relief in 2026.
