Hyderabad: As India’s digital ecosystem gets more sophisticated, cybercriminals are adopting artificial intelligence to design highly-convincing scams. With the number of internet users expected to touch 900 million in 2025, with rural areas accounting for 55 per cent, businesses and individuals are facing an unprecedented wave of AI-powered fraud, phishing attempts, and deep fake-driven deception.
Ahead of the Safer Internet Day on February 11, cybersecurity analysts warn that fraudsters are increasingly using AI to impersonate company executives, create realistic fake voices, and craft highly personalised scam emails.
“Cybercrime is no longer about poor grammar and obvious phishing links. With AI, scammers are creating emails and voice messages so authentic that even seasoned professionals are falling for them,” says Syed Aariz Khan, a city-based cybersecurity consultant.
Apoorva Rachel K., a senior security strategist, said that AI is drastically increasing the attack surface for cybercriminals. “With AI tools becoming more accessible, scammers no longer need technical expertise. They can generate fraudulent content — be it emails, videos, or even phone calls — at a scale we’ve never seen before,” she explained.
The impact is already visible. In just the first nine months of 2024, India reported cyber fraud losses amounting to over `11,000 crore. In response, the Indian government has boosted its cybersecurity budget to `1,900 crore for 2025, signalling the urgency of digital threats.
Recognising the rising tide of cyber fraud, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is rolling out secure domain names, such as ‘bank.in’ for financial institutions and ‘fin.in’ for non-banking firms, to curb fraudulent websites. “A major challenge is the rapid increase in fake websites mimicking legitimate financial services. This initiative should help customers distinguish real platforms from scams,” says cybersecurity researcher Ruhi Deshmukh.
Despite these measures, many companies remain unprepared. A recent World Economic Forum report showed that businesses continue to underestimate cyber risks, particularly in sectors like healthcare, finance, and energy. Investors are now closely evaluating companies’ cybersecurity postures, considering them a key factor in long-term stability.
Experts advise both individuals and organisations to take proactive steps to combat cyber threats. “Strong passwords and two-factor authentication are just the basics. Companies must train employees to detect AI-driven scams, update their security systems regularly, and use AI themselves to counter these threats,” said Aariz Khan.
With cybercriminals evolving rapidly, staying informed and adopting robust security measures is no longer optional, it’s a necessity, experts warned.
