Patna: Bihar’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) has intensified its efforts against cybercrime, blocking more than 20,000 mobile numbers and taking action against suspected mule accounts, officials said on Wednesday.
According to EOU Additional Director General Nayyar Hasnain Khan, a total of 20,486 mobile numbers linked to cybercriminal activity have been deactivated so far, including 249 numbers in October alone. In parallel, the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of over 13,000 mobile phones have been blocked. Since the start of the year, 171 individuals involved in cybercrime have been arrested, with seven apprehended in October.
Khan added that investigations into mule accounts—bank accounts used to launder the proceeds of online fraud—are ongoing. In August, the EOU flagged 199 accounts as suspicious and obtained data on 138 accounts through the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) portal. Monitoring of social media has also led to the removal of 513 posts and profiles deemed controversial, misleading, or objectionable.
From January to September 2025, Bihar received 74,000 online complaints of cyber fraud. Authorities have frozen Rs 75.92 crore, representing just over 21% of the total reported losses, and returned Rs 5.14 crore to victims. In July, the state ranked fourth nationally in the number of cyber fraud complaints and ninth for the value of funds frozen; in August, it was fifth in cybercrime FIRs filed.
