FIA Received Roughly 390,000 Complaints on Cybercrime in Last 3 Years

The Federal Investigative Agency received 386,602 complaints in the last three years related to cybercrime, reflecting a rising trend in digital offenses across Pakistan.

According to the document, in 2021, the FIA Cyber Crime Wing recorded 115,868 complaints, followed by a 17 percent increase to 136,024 complaints in 2022. In 2023, the number slightly decreased by 1 percent to 134,710 complaints.

Over the three years, the FIA conducted a total of 48,158 inquiries related to Cyber Crime. In 2021, the agency conducted 15,766 inquiries, which saw a decline of 9 percent to 14,380 inquiries in 2022. However, in 2023, inquiries surged by 25 percent to 18,012.

Similarly, the FIA registered a total of 4,067 First Information Reports (FIRs) from 2021 to 2023. In 2021, 1,223 FIRs were registered, followed by a 20 percent rise to 1,469 FIRs in 2022. However, in 2023, the number of FIRs decreased by 6 percent to 1,375.

Convictions saw a steady rise over the years, totaling 178 across three years, with the most notable increase in 2023. In 2021, the agency secured 38 convictions, which increased by 26% to 48 in 2022. In 2023, convictions surged by an impressive 92 percent, reaching 92 total convictions.

Meanwhile, acquittals stood at 367 during this period, with a notable 101 percent rise in acquittals from 88 in 2021 to 177 in 2022, followed by a 42 percent decrease to 102 acquittals in 2023.

According to FIA Cyber Crime, to combat the escalating cybercrime challenge, the agency has launched a two-tiered strategy.

This includes awareness campaigns through social media, workshops, and seminars nationwide, alongside close coordination with key stakeholders such as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), telecom operators, and banks to ensure timely identification and prosecution of cybercriminals.