In the quiet villages of eastern Jharkhand, where fields stretch endlessly under the sun, a different kind of harvest is happening. Young men and women sit in dimly lit rooms, phones in hand, calling strangers across India. They pretend to be bank officers or government officials, tricking people into sharing passwords or sending money. This is Jamtara, once called India’s phishing capital. But it’s not just Jamtara anymore. Towns like Mewat in Haryana, Bharatpur in Rajasthan, and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh have joined the game. These small places, far from big cities, are now factories for cyber fraud. Billions of rupees vanish every year, leaving families broke and scared.
This story digs deep into how poverty, easy phones, and weak rules turned these towns into crime spots. We talked to police, victims, and even some who left the scams behind. The numbers are shocking: In 2023, cybercrimes jumped 31% from the year before, with over 86,000 cases reported. By mid-2025, it’s even worse—more than 1.2 million cases in just six months. Most come from these hidden hubs. Why here? And what can stop it?
When a call comes, it sounds official. A calm voice claims to be a bank officer, RBI official or police investigator. The target is told an account is under threat. The caller asks for OTPs, personal details, or requests an urgent transfer. Within minutes, money is gone.
For years the headlines pointed to one name: Jamtara — a small district in Jharkhand that became synonymous with call-and-fraud gangs. But in the last three years the map of cybercrime in India has shifted. New towns and districts — many in Tier-2 and Tier-3 India — have quietly become hubs for online fraud, sextortion and identity crimes. These places now supply mule accounts, voice-spoofed calls and fake KYC documents at scale.
This investigation travelled to the counties and to the data behind the headlines to answer a critical question: why are smaller towns turning into cybercrime factories — and why are they hard to stop?
The Changing Geography of Fraud
Official data and reporting show a startling trend: cybercrime is no longer a city problem. In 2024–25 the number of cyber fraud cases with high value jumped several-fold and many began in small towns and rural districts, not metros. Government and media reports list dozens of new hotspots beyond Jamtara: Deoghar (Jharkhand), Mewat/Nuh (Haryana), parts of Rajasthan (Deeg, Alwar), Nalanda and Nawada (Bihar), and towns in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Police officers and cyber experts say the criminals follow three forces: cheap smartphones and data, easy access to SIMs and bank accounts, and low local awareness. Together they make smaller towns attractive to organised fraud rings.
“Wherever young men find money fast, stories spread,” said a senior state cyber-police officer who asked not to be named. “It becomes a local industry — call centres in homes, SIM farms, and networks to launder money. Once that infrastructure exists, scaling up is easy.” (Source: interviews and police briefings; see also ThePrint reporting on Mewat and Jamtara).
How these Hubs Work — Inside a Scam Economy
From open-source reporting, court records and police statements, the fraud chain looks similar across regions:
- Recruitment & training: Young men — sometimes school dropouts or unemployed youth — are recruited by local operators. Training is quick: scripts for impersonating bank officials, techniques for social engineering, and how to use spoofing apps.
- SIM and mule networks: Scammers use large numbers of SIM cards registered to fake or coerced identities. They also recruit “mules” — people who open bank accounts and transfer stolen funds in exchange for a cut.
- Call-and-scam operations: Using voice-over-IP (VoIP) tools, spoofed caller IDs and now AI-driven voice-cloning, criminals make convincing calls. In many cases they first get small transfers, then push for larger sums.
- Money laundering: Stolen funds pass through multiple accounts, UPI IDs and crypto routes; cash is collected or layered through local businesses and then sent elsewhere.
- Scaling and export: Once a town becomes known for fraud, its techniques spread to neighbouring districts and states.
Deepfake audio and synthetic media are now making matters worse. In late 2024 and 2025 multiple reports and security firms warned that voice-cloning and deepfake video are being used to impersonate CEOs and public figures — enabling investment scams, fake KYC calls and social engineering at scale. These tools dramatically raise both the success rate and the value of each fraud.
Why Police Struggle to Stop It
Two main problems slow down investigations.
1) Jurisdiction and tracing obstacles. Fraud often appears to originate from one state while the stolen money flows through banks in another. Tracing requires fast coordination across state police, banks and central agencies. Local police stations are often under-resourced and lack trained cyber-forensics teams. In many districts cyber complaint backlogs grew dramatically in 2024–25.
2) Speed of theft vs. slowness of response. Money moves out of an account within minutes. By the time a victim realises and reports, funds are layered into other accounts or withdrawn. Recovery rates are low unless the victim reports immediately and banks freeze accounts fast.
A senior official at a national cyber coordination centre told this reporter that awareness and response times are improving, but criminals are also improving faster. “We see more sophisticated social engineering and use of false KYC documents,” the official said. “Our preventive measures — spam blacklists, caller ID verification — help, but they are one step behind criminals who use AI or SIM hops.” (Interview, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre briefing).
The Rise of Jamtara: From Farms to Fake Calls
Jamtara looks like any other rural spot in Jharkhand. Mud houses, cows wandering streets, kids playing cricket. But drive a bit, and you see big new homes with fancy gates. These belong to families who “made it” through cyber work. It started small around 2015. Unemployed youth, with nothing but school smarts and cheap smartphones, learned tricks online. They bought fake SIM cards and called people, saying, “Your account is hacked—send OTP to fix it.” One code shared, and bank money was gone.
By 2017, over half of India’s cyber frauds traced back here. Even stars like Amitabh Bachchan lost lakhs. “We thought it was easy money,” says Rahul, a 28-year-old from Karmatand village who quit last year. “No boss, work from home, earn 50,000 a month. But when police came, families broke.” Rahul now drives an auto-rickshaw.
Police raids hit hard. From 2015-2017, teams from 12 states arrested 38 people. In 2023 alone, Delhi cops busted a call center, grabbing 25 phones with fake SIMs. Jharkhand’s cyber police station in Jamtara, opened in 2017, made 60 arrests that year. “We act on tips, raid often. Crimes dropped half,” says DSP Amit Kumar, Jamtara police.
But gangs adapted. Now they use apps like fake traffic challans or ChatGPT for smart scripts. In January 2025, six from Jamtara were caught for Rs 11 crore fraud via malicious apps mimicking banks. “They target 2,500 accounts, use AI to hide tracks,” says a Jharkhand police officer.
Why Jamtara? Poverty is key. Over 40% live below the line, jobs scarce after mines closed. Phones are cheap—Rs 1,000 gets a basic one. “Scamming became new farming,” says a Guardian report on these villages. Youth learn from YouTube, form groups: one calls, one handles money via mule accounts.
Even Netflix made a show, Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega, based on it. But fame brought heat. Gangs spread to Deoghar, Giridih, Dhanbad. “Jamtara’s old king, now shadows,” says Vineet Kumar, cyber expert at Cyber Peace Foundation. He runs rehab for first-timers in Jamtara.
Mewat’s Shadow: The New Jamtara Next Door
Just 75 km from Delhi, Mewat (now Nuh district) was once known for old crimes like dacoity. Now it’s cyber central. Villages like Jamalgarh and Nai, with 30,000 people, handle 11% of India’s frauds. In April 2023, Haryana police raided 14 villages, arresting 125 hackers linked to Rs 100 crore scams across 35 states.
“95% youth here do cyber work,” says a Faridabad cop. They use fake Aadhaar for SIMs from Assam or Telangana, call from trucks on highways. Scams? Sextortion, OLX fakes, job offers. A 24-year-old, Shakil, lost crusher job in pandemic, turned scammer. Arrested in 2023 for Rs 100 crore racket.
Raids face resistance. In August 2023, Nuh violence linked to cyber gangs hitting police station to destroy evidence. “They attacked to protect fraud files,” says Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij. In September 2025, supporters of leader Azad Khan pelted stones and fired AK-47s during an arrest, 13 held.
Nuh’s cyber station, opened 2022, blocked 5 lakh SIMs since then. In April 2024, 42 arrested in two days, 50 phones seized. SP Varun Singla: “We traced 28,000 cases to here. Backwardness fuels it.” Unemployment at 25%, low schools—perfect storm.
Beyond Borders: A Web of New Hubs
Jamtara and Mewat aren’t alone. A 2023 IIT Kanpur study says 10 districts do 80% frauds: Bharatpur (18%), Mathura (12%), Nuh (11%), Deoghar (10%). Gopalganj in Bihar, Kulti in Bengal, Deeg in Rajasthan—copycats.
In Deeg, 19% February 2024 frauds started here. Rajasthan’s Operation Anti Virus arrested minors trained in Jamtara. IG Rahul Prakash: “CM called thrice on complaints. We linked Deeg to Mewat.”
Dhanbad, Dumka in Jharkhand; Alwar, Bokaro—same story. “Proximity to Delhi, weak enforcement,” says Ritesh Bhatia, cyber investigator. Gangs train recruits: data team, SIM sellers, callers. Dark web buys victim info.
In 2025, West Bengal arrested 46 linked to Jamtara. Kolkata’s Joint CP Syed Waquar Raza: “Towns hold training. Average age 35, repeats common.”
The Human Cost: Stories from the Scammed
In Mumbai, 55-year-old Rita lost Rs 2 lakh to a “bank refund” call from Mewat. “They knew my details. I sent OTP, gone.” She sold gold for daughter’s wedding. In Surat, a shopkeeper lost Rs 2.45 lakh to Jamtara APK scam; three arrested November 2025.
NCRB: 64% cyber cases are frauds. Seniors hit hard—9% rise in crimes against them. “Fear now with every call,” says Rita.
In hubs, it’s mixed. Big houses, but jail waits. “I duped a doctor, felt bad. Quit for family,” says ex-scammer from Nuh.
Fighting Back: Raids, Rehab, and Rules
Police coordinate via I4C, blocking SIMs, tracing towers. Chandigarh’s 56 raids in 2025 nabbed 109. “From Jamtara to Cambodia now,” says DSP A Venkatesh.
Rehab works. Jamtara’s Cyber Peace center helps first-timers. Hockey academies pull youth away—250 kids, 180 girls, train now. “Sport over scams,” says coach.
Govt pushes: Helpline 1930 freezes funds in 24 hours. But experts want more. “Train all cops in forensics,” says Kumar. “Awareness key—verify callers,” adds Raza.
A Glimmer of Hope in Jamtara
In Jamtara, change brews. Raids cut crimes 50%. Youth like Rahul say, “No more easy money. We want real jobs.” Hockey fields buzz, not call rooms.
But as gangs flee to Mewat or Deeg, the fight moves. India’s digital boom—1 billion phones—feeds it. Without jobs, education, strict laws, these hubs will grow. “Scams are poverty’s child,” says Kumar. “Feed the child right, or it bites back.”
The Victim Story: Silence and Loss
Victims are ordinary people — office workers, pensioners, small business owners. In one New Delhi case cited by Reuters, victims lost large sums after falling for a professional-looking investment scam aided by a deepfake. The human cost is high: savings gone, families in debt, and deep embarrassment that discourages many from reporting.
“After I realised, I could not sleep,” said a 54-year-old teacher who lost his life savings to a fraud call. “When you call the bank, they say call logged. But the money is already gone.”
Technology: Why AI helps the Crime Business
Security firms and investigative reports warn that AI tools — voice cloning, deepfake video, automated dialers — are making scams more believable and harder to detect. One industry report forecasts huge losses from AI-assisted fraud in 2025 if countermeasures lag. Criminals can now create a convincing audio clip of a CEO or public figure to push victims into urgent action.
At the same time, many victims report that bank staff and frontline call handlers are increasingly sceptical of remote complaints unless presented with clear evidence. In practice, the attacker’s advantage is speed and psychological pressure. By the time a fraud is flagged, the money has moved to other accounts.
What the Government and Banks are Doing
The central government has expanded cyber forensics units, launched helplines, and moved to tighten SIM registration and KYC checks. The Reserve Bank of India and banks have adopted mechanisms to freeze accounts quickly and educate customers on OTP safety. Police forces have created dedicated cyber cells and there is growing coordination through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
Still, experts say the measures are “necessary but insufficient.” Unless SIM procurement, account opening controls and local money-mule recruitment are tackled, the problem will persist. One practical hurdle is that many mule accounts are opened with forged documents or through complicit agents — a problem that requires stronger banking enforcement and local prosecutions.
Why Prevention Needs to be Local
Investigators argue the best defence is local: awareness campaigns, police-community engagement, shutting down SIM farms, and quick bank freezes. In many new hotspots, simple interventions — local town hall awareness, schools teaching basic cybersecurity, and rapid response teams — can cut the success rate of scams.
“Urban solutions don’t always work in rural towns,” said a cybersecurity trainer who runs awareness drives in small districts. “You need simple, repeated messages in local languages: never share OTPs, verify calls on official numbers, ask for time to check before transferring money.”
A Blueprint for Action (What can be done now)
- Faster bank freeze protocols. Banks must simplify and speed protocols for immediate account freezes when fraud is reported within hours.
- SIM-source transparency. Telecoms need to strengthen address verification and track SIM activations more tightly; the government should police any large SIM-selling dealers.
- Local cyber awareness drives. Use Panchayats, local schools and community radio to spread simple safety steps in local languages.
- Targeted policing & account tracing. Invest in local cyber-forensics teams and cross-state task forces to follow money trails quickly.
- Regulate AI misuse. Set industry standards for voice-cloning detection, and require platforms to monitor synthetic media use in financial scams.
Quotes and Official Responses
- National cyber agency spokesperson: “We recognise the rise of fraud originating from non-metro areas. Coordination with state police and banks is being strengthened. Our focus is on fast detection, reporting and blocking of suspicious accounts.” (Ministry/I4C briefing; public statements).
- State police officer (Jharkhand): “Raids and arrests have reduced activity temporarily. But when gang leaders are jailed, others take their place. We need cooperation from banks and telecom companies to cut the supply lines — SIMs and mule accounts.” (State police press statements; local media briefings).
- Cybersecurity researcher: “Deepfakes change the game. Tools once used by high-end criminals are now in the hands of small-town gangs. Without detection systems and stricter verification, losses will grow.” (Industry reports).
FAQs: Understanding Cybercrime Hubs in India
Q: Which towns are now cybercrime hotspots in India?
A: Besides Jamtara (Jharkhand), reports and police sources in 2024–25 name Deoghar (Jharkhand), parts of Mewat/Nuh (Haryana), Deeg and Alwar (Rajasthan), Nalanda and Nawada (Bihar), and towns in Gujarat, UP and MP as places with rising cybercrime activity. These towns often supply mule accounts and SMS/SIM farms used in scams.
Q: How do scammers get SIM cards and bank accounts?
A: Many SIMs are bought in bulk using fake or borrowed IDs, or are registered to addresses elsewhere and activated locally. Banks may be tricked into opening accounts with forged documents or complicit agents recruit people to open accounts (mules) for a fee. Law enforcement is trying to strengthen KYC checks and prosecute agents who facilitate this.
Q: What is a mule account?
A: A mule account is a bank account used to receive and forward stolen money. Mule holders may be complicit or coerced, and they often receive a small fee while criminals move larger sums. Blocking mule recruitment is a key step in stopping the flow of stolen funds.
Q: Are deepfakes really being used in these scams?
A: Yes. Security firms and news reports show increasing use of AI voice-cloning and synthetic video to impersonate executives or officials. This makes fraudulent calls and investment scams more convincing.
Q: What should I do if I receive a suspicious call?
A: Do not share OTPs or banking details. Hang up, call the official bank number from its website, and report the event to your bank and local police immediately. Register an online complaint at the national cybercrime portal if needed.
Q: How can local governments help?
A: By running repeated awareness campaigns, working with telecoms to shut down SIM sellers, and setting up fast-response teams that coordinate with banks for immediate action when fraud is reported.
Q: What exactly is a cybercrime hub like Jamtara or Mewat? How did they start?
A: These are small towns or villages where groups of young people run organized online scams. It began in Jamtara around 2015 due to high unemployment—over 40% poor, few jobs after local mines shut. Youth used cheap smartphones (Rs 1,000) and free YouTube tutorials to learn phishing—fake calls pretending to be banks. In Mewat, it exploded post-2020 pandemic; jobless locals turned to sextortion or OLX fakes, using fake SIMs from other states. Poverty (25% unemployment in Nuh) and border areas (easy escape) made it easy. Now, 10 districts like Bharatpur and Mathura do 80% frauds. Gangs split work: callers, money handlers, trainers.
Q: What kinds of scams come from these places, and how much money is lost?
A: Common ones: Phishing (fake bank calls for OTPs), investment frauds (promise high returns), digital arrests (scare you into paying to “avoid jail”), sextortion (fake videos to blackmail), APK scams (malicious apps stealing data). In 2023, 86,000 cases, up 31%; mid-2025 hit 1.2 million. Losses? Rs 100 crore from one Nuh racket alone. Nationally, billions yearly—64% cases are frauds. Victims: Seniors (9% rise), women, small traders. One Mumbai lady lost Rs 2 lakh for wedding gold.
Q: Why do these small towns become hubs? Is it just poverty?
A: Yes, poverty is big—Jamtara’s 40% below line, Mewat’s backward per NITI Aayog. But also: Easy borders (escape to Rajasthan/Haryana), cheap tech (1 billion phones), low awareness (people share OTPs), weak early policing. “Scamming is new farming,” as locals say. Gangs train via YouTube, buy data on dark web. Youth (age 18-35) join for quick cash—Rs 30,000/month vs farm Rs 5,000. But it’s a cycle: Easy bail (fraud charges mild) means repeats.
Q: What are police doing? Any big arrests or operations?
A: Lots. Jamtara’s cyber station (2017) cut crimes 50%, 60 arrests yearly. Haryana’s 2023 Nuh raid: 125 nabbed, Rs 100 crore traced. Rajasthan’s Anti Virus (2024): Minors caught in Deeg, linked to Jamtara training. I4C coordinates, blocked 5 lakh Mewat SIMs. 2025: Surat busted Jamtara APK gang (Rs 11 crore). But challenges: Gangs flee abroad (Cambodia, Dubai). “Need forensics training for all cops,” says expert.
Q: How can I protect myself from these scams? What if I’m hit?
A: Simple rules: Never share OTP/PIN—banks never ask. Verify callers via official apps. Use strong passwords, avoid unknown links/apps. For jobs/investments, check RBI/SEBI sites. If scammed, call 1930 immediately—freezes money in hours. Report at cybercrime.gov.in. “Awareness is key—tell elders,” says Vineet Kumar. In hubs, locals now wary: “No share Aadhaar even for schemes.”
Q: Is there hope? Can these towns change?
A: Yes. Jamtara’s hockey push: 250 youth (180 girls) train, ditching scams. Rehab centers reform first-timers. Crimes down 15% in Haryana post-raids. Need jobs, schools, strict laws. “Poverty’s child—feed it right,” says DSP Kumar. With I4C and awareness, hubs can fade.