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Cybercrooks in Karnataka are no longer restricting themselves to Bengaluru but are increasingly targeting smaller cities. Data presented by Home Minister G Parameshwara in the ongoing assembly session showed that 8,620 cybercrime cases were registered across the state in the first seven months of 2025.
Bengaluru remained the epicenter with 6,301 cases, followed by Bengaluru Rural with 258 and Vijayapura with 250. Tumakuru recorded 151 cases, while Chikkaballapura, Udupi, and Bengaluru South each reported more than 100 cases. The figures point to a worrying trend of fraudsters expanding into tier-II and tier-III cities.
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Mysuru has seen a sharp rise in online fraud. The city registered 98 cases in the first seven months of 2025, with victims losing about ₹25 crore. Last year, losses had touched ₹49 crore. Among this year’s victims were two senior citizens who together lost ₹2 crore, highlighting how fraudsters often target vulnerable individuals.
Officials noted that the city typically reports around 250 cases annually, indicating that the fraud surge is accelerating.
Conviction rate remains abysmally low
Despite the sharp rise in cases, conviction rates remain dismal. Since April 2023, more than 53,000 cybercrime cases have been reported statewide, but only 70 offenders have been convicted. On average, Karnataka sees 22,000 cases annually.
In 2025 so far, 8,600 cases have been filed, but only around 8,000 complaints — about 15% — were effectively addressed, leaving a large number unresolved.
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Government steps up response
In response to the crisis, the state government has opened 43 new cybercrime police stations and appointed officers of deputy superintendent rank as Station House Officers. Specialised training programmes are being launched to enhance investigative capacity.
A new cyber investigation manual has also been introduced to help officers tackle emerging types of online fraud. Additionally, 16 cyber technical experts — including digital forensic and cyber security analysts — have been recruited on contract in Bengaluru.
Officials said investment and job frauds remain the most common scams, followed by digital arrests and fake KYC verification. Police advised victims to report incidents immediately, as quick action within 24 hours can sometimes lead to partial recovery of funds.
