India recorded more than 12.71 lakh cyber fraud complaints during the first six months of 2026, with victims reporting alleged financial losses exceeding ₹10,178 crore, according to data discussed at a recent meeting of senior officials in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to The Indian Express, which cited official sources, Uttar Pradesh registered the highest number of complaints at 1.85 lakh, followed by Maharashtra (1.58 lakh), Karnataka (1.21 lakh), Gujarat (97,937) and Bihar (93,137).
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The data highlights the continuing rise in online investment fraud, digital arrest scams, phishing attacks, impersonation, fraudulent loan apps and malicious links shared through messaging and social media platforms.
Which states reported the highest losses?
While Uttar Pradesh topped the list in complaint numbers, Maharashtra recorded the highest reported financial loss at ₹1,637.66 crore.
It was followed by:
Karnataka – ₹1,097.37 crore
Tamil Nadu – ₹897.79 crore
Uttar Pradesh – ₹734.19 crore
Gujarat – ₹643.82 crore
Chandigarh – ₹630.53 crore
Telangana – ₹614.18 crore
According to the data, Rajasthan (75,883 complaints), West Bengal (72,439), Delhi (64,496), Tamil Nadu (63,116) and Haryana (58,721) also reported significant numbers of cyber fraud cases.
How much money has been recovered?
Of the 12.71 lakh complaints received nationwide between January and June, around 2.86 lakh were forwarded for banking action, while 2.70 lakh were processed under the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, according to officials.
Authorities said banks placed liens or holds on ₹2,968.85 crore, amounting to about 29.17% of the reported fraud value.
These statistics also point out the difficulty in getting back lost money. From 2021 until May 2026, losses in cases of cybercrime have been reported to be ₹64,447 crore. Of this amount, the government has frozen ₹10,718 crore, and refunds of ₹323 crore have been made to date.
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Official sources stated that the states and Union Territories that recorded relatively lower complaints include Lakshadweep (37), Ladakh (174), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (406), Mizoram (432), Nagaland (455), Sikkim (537), Arunachal Pradesh (656) and Meghalaya (784).
FAQs
Q1. Which state has seen the highest number of cyber fraud complaints in 2026?
As per the data, Uttar Pradesh has seen the highest number of cyber fraud complaints, with 1.85 lakh cases being reported between January and June 2026.
Q2. In which state have the highest losses from cyber fraud occurred?
According to the data, Maharashtra has seen the highest financial loss in terms of losses claimed by victims at ₹1,637.66 crore between January and June 2026.
