Cyber criminals stole Rs 1.2 trillion from Indians in 2019: Survey

Do you know what number went up in 2019? Sadly, it is the number of cyber crime cases that did. The debate on whether technology is a boon or bane continues even now and it is the bitter truth that the further we are moving up the ladder of digitization, the more we are exposing ourselves, our data and our privacies to innovative fraudsters.

Nearly 70% Indians are worried their identities will be stolen, as per a recent NortonLifeLock survey, finds ET Wealth in this survey. The source of this survey is the 2019 NortonLifeLock Cyber Safety Insights Report, which was conducted online by The Harris Poll for NortonLifeLock among 10,063 adults in 10 countries. Here are other findings.

• Rs 131.2 million is the number of cyber crime victims in India in 2019, compared with 350 million worldwide.
• Rs 1.24 trillion is the amount lost in India in the past 12 months due to cyber crime.
• 81% Indians are alarmed about their privacy, the highest in 10 countries, with the global average being 67%.
• 4 in 10 consumers in India have experienced identity theft, with 10% impacted in the past year.

More men are victims of cyber crime
Cybercrime
Men: 44%
Women: 33%

ID theft
Men: 84%
Women: 76%

• 63% Indians of the 131 million cyber crime victims, were impacted financially.
• 80% Indians have been a victim of cyber crime at some point in their lives, with 66% victimised in the past year.
• 63% Indians do not know what they will do if their identities are stolen, even though 70% are worried that the identities will be stolen.

Identity theft higher among younger adults
Cybercrime
Young (18-39 yrs): 41%
Old (40+ yrs): 22%

ID theft
Young (18-39 yrs): 81%
Old (40+ yrs): 73%

• 41% Indians are concerned their sensitive personal information will be sold to third parties and used without their consent.
• 86% Indians are the most proactive in the world in looking for better ways to protect their privacy, compared with 65% globally.