Greed behind most cybercrimes in state: NCRB

MUMBAI: Greed or financial gain is the motive behind most cybercrimes in Maharashtra, statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) have revealed.

MUMBAI: Greed or financial gain is the motive behind most cybercrimes in Maharashtra, statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) have revealed.

HT Image

Out of the 2,195 cases registered, the motive behind 682 cases was greed/financial gain. The other reasons behind such cases are personal revenge/settling scores (21 cases), emotional motives like anger/revenge (18),extortion (17), causing disrepute (35), prank/satisfaction of gaining control(1), fraud/illegal gain (354), insult to modesty of women(234), sexual exploitation (113), political motives(5), inciting hate crimes against community(39), inciting hate crimes against country(0), disrupt public services(2), sale/purchase of illegal drugs/items(4) and for developing own business/ interest (17).

The state stood second when it came to reporting the highest number of cybercrimes with an increase of 16.8 per cent when compared to 2014. A total of 825 people were arrested in 2015, which fell by 12.4 per cent as 942 were held in the state in 2014. All the 825 arrested are Indians with 19 being disgruntled employees and 14 were business competitors, revealed the analysis.

The city saw an increase in cybercrimes by 50.1 per cent with 912 cases in 2015 against 604 cases in 2014. Experts pointed out that the city has one of the highest number of technology users and there has also been increase in people reporting cybercrimes.

“Financial gain motive is 100 per cent true as it counts in those wanting to make real money out of cybercrime. Among all crimes, cybercrime is the least likely type of crime in which you can get caught and if someone is caught, then you don’t punish them. The Mumbai police have had commissioners which were very cyber friendly and more persons now believe that if you file a complaint, something will happen,” said Vijay Mukhi, cyber consultant. “Mumbai uses lot of technology and the more the technology, more will be the crimes. Also, even the poor and middle class use technology but they don’t understand it and so that there are chances of them being victims of hacking or cheating,” added Mukhi.