Bhubaneswar, Mar 9: Odisha has witnessed a sharp rise in cybercrime incidents over the past 18 months, with more than 4,000 cases registered across police stations despite ongoing awareness drives. Official figures presented in the Assembly highlight the growing menace of online fraud and its impact on unsuspecting citizens.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday informed the House that between June 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, a total of 4,238 cybercrime cases involving fraud worth over Rs260.61 crore were reported. Of these, 2,482 cases were linked to financial fraud, 1,689 to social media fraud, 14 to hacking, and 53 to other categories.

During the same period, Odisha Police arrested 868 cyber fraudsters. This included 172 accused in financial fraud cases, 638 in social media frauds, one in a hacking-related case, and 57 in other types of cybercrime. However, recovery of defrauded money remains minimal. Out of the Rs260.61 crore swindled, only Rs61.36 lakh was returned to victims, while another Rs8.89 crore was frozen in suspect accounts.

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The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) recorded 27,368 complaints from Odisha in 2024 and 49,426 in 2025. According to the portal, fraudsters siphoned off more than Rs711.99 crore from victims during this period.

CM Majhi noted that enforcement efforts helped recover Rs2.47 crore for victims in 2024, while Rs23.64 crore was frozen in suspect accounts. In 2025, recoveries improved to Rs5.31 crore, with Rs68.71 crore secured by freezing fraudulent accounts, preventing further diversion of funds.

The figures underline the scale of cyber fraud in Odisha, showing that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient to curb the threat. The government has stressed the need for stronger preventive mechanisms, enhanced coordination with financial institutions, and greater public vigilance to protect citizens from online scams.