Bihar Ranks Third in Cyber Fraud Hotspots
Bihar has emerged as the third biggest hotspot for cyber fraud in the country. Despite ranking 28th among Indian states in mobile usage, a large section of Bihar’s population still does not use mobile phones.
According to official data, 56.18 percent of Bihar’s population uses mobile phones, which means nearly half the population is still outside the mobile network. In comparison, Jharkhand has about 64 percent mobile users, while Uttarakhand stands at over 100 percent, indicating multiple connections per person. Even so, Bihar remains behind several states in mobile penetration but continues to face a high number of cybercrime cases.
The data shows that Haryana ranks first and Maharashtra second in cyber fraud cases nationwide. In Bihar alone, more than 90,000 complaints of online fraud have been registered. Districts such as Nalanda, Patna, Nawada, and Sheikhpura have reported the highest number of cybercrime incidents.
Nationwide, around 1.71 crore people are still using basic feature phones. Experts point out that cyber fraudsters are increasingly targeting vulnerable users. According to officials from the telecom department, mobile phone usage in Bihar has increased over the past seven years, but growth remains slower compared to other states.
The report also notes that while cybercrime cases rose sharply earlier, the number of complaints has started declining in 2024, indicating improved awareness and enforcement efforts.
