Kalaburagi: In a significant relief for victims of online financial fraud, the Kalaburagi city police, in coordination with the Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) wing, have successfully traced and restored more than ₹2.73 crore to the bank accounts of cybercrime victims during 2025. The recovered amount pertains to multiple cases of online cheating and digital fraud reported across the district.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Sharanappa S. Dhage said that the Cyber Crime Police Station, Kalaburagi, carried out sustained and technology-driven investigations, enabling authorities to identify organised cybercrime networks and recover defrauded funds through timely intervention.
Significant Recoveries Through 1930 Cyber Helpline
According to police data, 2,211 complaints were registered through the Cyber Helpdesk Portal 1930, involving a total fraud amount of ₹8.93 crore. Following investigation and coordination with banks and financial institutions, the police were able to freeze and refund ₹96.82 lakh to affected victims in these cases.
In addition, ₹1.76 crore was recovered from 40 cases registered at various police stations, where the total amount cheated stood at ₹12.72 crore. Taken together, the total amount restored to victims’ accounts stands at ₹2.73 crore (₹2,73,24,849).
Police officials said the recovery was made possible through rapid financial tracking, analysis of transaction trails and coordination with banks to freeze accounts before the money could be siphoned off further.
Investigation Under Senior Officers’ Supervision
The investigations were conducted under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners of Police Kanika Sikriwal and Praveen H. Nayak, along with Assistant Commissioner of Police James Menezes. Teams from the City Crime Branch (CCB) and the 1930 Cyber Helpdesk worked in close coordination to analyse digital evidence and trace fund movements across multiple accounts.
Commissioner Dhage said the use of banking records, real-time transaction monitoring and technical inputs played a crucial role in identifying fraudsters and preventing the permanent loss of money.
Cyber Crimes Spike on Weekends
Highlighting a key trend, the Police Commissioner noted that cyber fraud incidents tend to rise on weekends, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays, when banks are closed and victims are often unable to lodge immediate complaints.
“Delays give fraudsters time to move money through multiple accounts. This significantly reduces the chances of recovery,” he said.
Urging citizens to act swiftly, Dhage stressed that complaints should be reported within 24 hours of the fraud. “If the complaint is registered promptly, the probability of recovering the money ranges between 70% and 85%,” he said.
Clear Warning to the Public
The Police Commissioner reiterated that banks, police officers and government officials never ask for sensitive information such as OTPs, PINs, CVV numbers or passwords.
Citizens were cautioned against responding to unsolicited calls, suspicious messages, unknown links or QR codes. In the event of any financial fraud, victims were advised to immediately dial 1930 or file an online complaint on the cybercrime reporting portal.
Focus on Digital Safety
Dhage also urged citizens to promptly report hacked or fake social media accounts to both the respective platforms and the police. Emphasising preventive measures, he advised regular changes of passwords for bank accounts, UPI services, email IDs and social media platforms.
According to the police, timely reporting and basic digital awareness remain the most effective tools against cybercrime. The Kalaburagi police’s recovery drive demonstrates that early action can not only help trace cybercriminals but also significantly improve the chances of retrieving stolen funds, offering a crucial lesson for digital users across the region.
