Mumbai Records Alarming 33% Surge in Digital Arrest Scam Losses to ₹155 Crore in 2025
Residents of Mumbai suffered staggering financial losses amounting to ₹155 crore due to digital arrest scams in the year 2025, marking a sharp 33% increase compared to the previous year. This surge is particularly concerning as it occurred alongside a slight decline in the number of officially registered cases, which dropped from 195 in 2024 to 191 in 2025.
AI Tools Democratize Cybercrime, Escalating the Threat
Cybersecurity experts are raising alarms that the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools has fundamentally transformed the criminal landscape, making sophisticated scams accessible to virtually anyone. Sundareshwar Krishnamurthy, partner and India cyber leader at PwC India, emphasized this shift, stating, "AI has turned cybercrime into something anyone can do. We are no longer dealing solely with sophisticated syndicates. Today, an individual with a smartphone and access to plug-and-play AI models can execute scams that once required entire BPO-style operations. The barrier to entry has completely collapsed."
This technological advancement is expected to drive a massive increase in scam attempts. Cybersecurity expert Nikhil Mahadeshwar warned, "With AI-based calls, scam attempts are going to increase exponentially. We urgently need specific legislation to address these AI-driven crimes."
Investment, Job, and Digital Arrest Frauds Dominate Cyber Offences
Collectively, investment scams, job frauds, and digital arrest scams constituted a significant 28% of all cyber offences reported in Mumbai during 2025. While law enforcement has intensified its crackdown, the battle remains challenging. Mumbai Police data reveals that the detection rate for these combined fraud categories improved from 23% in 2024 to 29% in 2025. However, arrests often only net the "beneficiaries" operating mule accounts, while the masterminds frequently evade capture from overseas locations.
Senior Citizens Emerge as Primary Targets
The human cost of this technological shift is disproportionately borne by the elderly. Mahadeshwar pointed out that despite ongoing government awareness campaigns, senior citizens remain uniquely vulnerable due to difficulties in maintaining robust cyber hygiene. "Many struggle to understand what a malicious APK file is, how to enable two-factor authentication, or how to verify if an email password has been compromised. Scammers are constantly evolving to exploit this vulnerability," he explained.
A recent case highlights this cruelty: fraudsters swindled a senior citizen of ₹16 lakh by falsely claiming he was under an "NIA investigation into the Delhi blasts" and coercing him to download an encrypted communication platform to conceal their digital trail.
Overall Cybercrime Trends and Police Advisory
Despite a 5% overall decrease in registered cybercrime cases in Mumbai—from 5,087 in 2024 to 4,825 in 2025—the financial impact is severe. Police data indicates Mumbaikars lost a total of ₹1,031 crore to all forms of cybercrime in 2025.
DCP (Cyber) Purushottam Karad offers crucial advice: "There is no legal provision for digital arrest in India. Do not trust assertions made by strangers online." He urges families to be vigilant: "If a senior citizen starts behaving differently, engage with them and ascertain what might be wrong."
Research by PwC in collaboration with Stop Scams UK underscores the threat, showing AI can analyze vast data to identify potential victims and craft personalized fraudulent content based on individual vulnerabilities, such as employment details or recent travel.
