An Analysis of Cybercrime Trends in India with a Focus on Tripura (Pre- and During COVID-19)

Resumen

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically reshaped the digital ecosystem, resulting in a notable surge in cybercrime across the globe. This study focuses on the state of Tripura in northeastern India to analyze the impact of the pandemic on cybercrime incidents in the region. The research investigates the underlying factors contributing to the escalation of cybercrime during the pandemic, examines the operational patterns of cybercriminal activities, and compares trends in cybercrime before and during the COVID-19 period.Adopting a mixed-method approach that incorporates data from law enforcement records, interviews, and inputs from key stakeholders, the study identifies key drivers such as increased internet penetration, low levels of cyber awareness, and inadequate cybersecurity infrastructure. The findings highlight a marked rise in cybercrime cases during the pandemic in Tripura, with phishing, online fraud, and identity theft emerging as the most prevalent threats.The study concludes with a set of actionable recommendations to mitigate future risks, including the implementation of robust cyber awareness programs, the strengthening of cybersecurity practices among individuals and organizations, and the promotion of coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, intermediaries, government bodies, and financial institutions to foster a more secure digital environment in Tripura. This study also includes the statistical analysis between different data sets and the analysis by regression line for the cybercrime trends study.