Cybercrime Cases Increase Six-Fold in Last Five Years

Over the past five years, cybercrime cases in Nepal have surged by six-fold, according to data provided by the Nepal Police Headquarters Cyber Bureau.

From the fiscal year 2076/77 BS to the current fiscal year, a significant uptick in cybercrime incidents has been observed. In the fiscal year 2076/77, the Cyber Bureau received 2,301 applications, whereas, by March 7 of the current fiscal year, the number had soared to 12,789.

Similarly, in the fiscal year 2077/78, 3,906 applications were lodged, followed by 4,686 in 2078/79, and 9,013 in 2079/80, as shared by the police headquarters.

The breakdown of applications received until March 6 of the current fiscal year revealed a diverse range of victims, including 164 boys, 242 girls, 5,703 women, 6,177 men, and 503 others.

Superintendent of Police and spokesperson for the Cyber Bureau, Deepak Raj Awasthi, highlighted the concerning rise in financial fraud cases in recent times. He noted that cybercrimes encompass various forms, including online fraud, dissemination of obscene materials on social media, identity theft, and website hacking.

The prevailing trend of cybercrime involves sophisticated methods such as morphing individuals’ faces onto explicit images, disseminating obscene content on social platforms, extortion through data hijacking, creating fake social media profiles, and targeting government and organizational websites for hacking.

Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and adopt cybersecurity measures to protect themselves from becoming victims of cybercrimes, emphasizing the importance of staying informed and cautious in the digital realm.

As cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, law enforcement agencies remain committed to tackling cyber threats and safeguarding citizens’ digital assets.