Digital fraud epidemic: Over 17,800 women targeted in Kerala last year

KOCHI: More than 17,800 women in Kerala fell victim to cybercrimes over the past year, with social media-based fraud and deceptive employment schemes emerging as the primary tactics employed by perpetrators.

According to official data, 17,874 cases of cybercrime targeting women were recorded across the state. Investigators identified social media advertisements as the most frequent method of manipulation, accounting for 3,996 cases. Job scams, particularly those offering "work from home" opportunities, followed closely, affecting 3,028 individuals.

Fraudulent mobile loan applications also remained a significant concern, with 2,317 women reporting that they were lured by promises of immediate credit. Victims of these schemes frequently faced subsequent extortion and harassment after falling into debt traps. Additionally, 1,069 women reported financial losses due to online trading scams.

Impact on Senior Citizens

Cyber syndicates have also increasingly targeted senior citizens, specifically aiming to compromise pension funds and personal savings.

While "digital arrest" threats accounted for 3.30% of reported cybercrime cases involving the elderly, authorities noted that these incidents often resulted in the loss of substantial sums of money. Data on crime patterns among senior citizens shows that 32.04% of victims were affected by online trading fraud, while job scams accounted for 17.24%. Vishing (voice phishing)—a form of fraud where scammers use telephone calls to obtain sensitive information—accounted for 5.96% of cases.

Breakdown of Cybercrime Methods

The following table summarises the reported incidents across various categories, highlighting the diversity of methods used by cyber criminals:

Investigators continue to monitor these trends as cyber mafias deploy varied strategies to exploit users. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution regarding unsolicited job offers, unverified online investment platforms, and suspicious financial requests.