Nagpur: As 2026 begins with promises of fresh starts and renewed hopes, the New Year has also arrived with a stark warning for Nagpur’s senior citizens. Data from 2025 reveals a troubling trend: cybercriminals have increasingly targeted the elderly, turning them into the most vulnerable victims of online fraud. Police fear that unless greater caution is exercised, senior citizens will continue to remain on the radar of cyber fraudsters in the coming year as well, a report in a local Hindi daily said.
Cyber police records show that scams related to fake investment schemes, stock market profits, task-based frauds, cryptocurrency deals and the particularly alarming threat of so-called “digital arrest” have wiped out life savings of elderly victims within minutes. According to officials from the cyber crime wing, nearly 60 per cent of all cyber fraud victims in Nagpur during 2025 were senior citizens, the report added.
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05 Jan 2026
15,000 complaints in a year
Over the past year, the Nagpur cyber police received around 15,000 online complaints through the national portal and at the cyber police station level. After verification, 125 cases were registered as FIRs. By December 29, 2025, cyber fraudsters had cheated residents of the city of a staggering Rs 45.77 crore. Police have so far arrested 42 accused persons in these cases.
Cyber Police Inspector Baliram Sutar said that the nature of fraud cases registered in 2025 reflects changing tactics. “We recorded 20 cases related to digital arrest scams, 38 cases of stock market fraud, nine cases of task fraud and five cases linked to cryptocurrency,” he said.
Area-wise data shows Hudkeshwar police station limits topping the list with 1,173 complaints, followed by Ajni with 747 and Pratap Nagar with 651. Shantinagar recorded the lowest number, with 148 complaints.
Why the delay in charge sheets?
Another cause for concern is the slow pace of prosecution. Of the 125 registered cases, charge sheets have been filed in only 20 so far, while investigations in 105 cases are still pending. Sources say this highlights the complexity of cyber crimes, which often involve inter-state networks, technical hurdles and digital evidence spread across multiple jurisdictions. However, the delay also works to the advantage of fraudsters. With fresh cases expected in 2026, the cyber police station is likely to face an even heavier workload in completing pending investigations and filing charge sheets.
Who are the most affected?
According to the cyber police, victims include retired government officials, businessmen, doctors, engineers and other senior citizens. The trend is not new. Even in 2024, nearly 45 per cent of the 150 registered cyber fraud cases involved elderly victims.
Awareness campaigns, but fear and greed persist
Inspector Sutar said that despite regular awareness drives, cybercriminals continue to exploit fear and greed. Cyber police teams frequently visit gardens and senior citizen groups to spread awareness, yet fraudsters posing as “government officials” manage to scare victims with threats or lure them with promises of high returns.
Relief through fund freezing
In 2025, the cyber police managed to freeze around Rs 16 crore through the online portal, which will soon be returned to victims. Earlier, on court orders, Rs 14 crore was already refunded, including Rs 1.5 crore cheated from a postal employee and Rs 4 crore taken from a company owner.
‘Caution is the best defence’
Appealing to citizens at the start of the New Year, the cyber police have urged people, especially senior citizens, not to trust suspicious calls, links or investment offers. “At the slightest doubt, complaints should be immediately registered on the NCCRP portal or by calling the 1930 helpline. The biggest lesson for the new year is simple: alertness is safety,” Inspector Baliram Sutar said.
