Bengaluru has witnessed a significant drop in traditional cybercrimes like One-Time Password (OTP) scams and phishing, but more advanced and sophisticated scams, such as digital arrest fraud and stock investment schemes, have been on the rise.

Data obtained by DH shows that OTP scam cases fell dramatically from 1,860 in 2022 to 1,334 in 2023, and further to 893 in 2024 (as of November). This marks a sharp 51.98% decline in two years. Similarly, phishing cases — cyberattacks through fake emails, texts, and calls targeting sensitive personal information — dropped by 68.09%, from 605 cases in 2022 to just 193 in 2024.

However, the nature of cybercrime shifted in 2024. Fraudulent stock investment schemes, part-time job offers, and digital arrest scams saw a staggering surge. Investment scam cases rose from 411 in 2022 to 3,754 in 2023 and further jumped to 5,707 in 2024, reflecting a massive 1,288.56% increase.

Another growing concern is FedEx courier fraud. Victims are coerced into believing that a suspicious package in their name contains illegal items, leading to false arrest threats. These cases increased from 403 in 2023 to 1,417 in 2024 — a 251.61% rise. No such cases were reported in 2022.

Deepfake frauds, involving AI-generated visuals, also emerged as a new challenge. Reports rose from 3 cases in 2023 to 20 in 2024.

Of the 30 types of cybercrimes monitored by Bengaluru police, investment fraud topped the list with 5,707 cases in 2024, followed by job frauds (1,423) and FedEx scams (1,417).

Investigators confirmed that cybercrime has evolved significantly. A senior cybercrime officer stated, "Phishing and OTP scams were more commonly done by scamsters who were in parts of India like Jamtara, Haryana, Rajasthan, etc."

Another investigator added, "In 2023 and mainly in 2024, we saw a major evolution in cybercrimes. Now, aided by technology and Artificial Intelligence, the scams are more sophisticated and well-orchestrated. The kingpins are also located in China and parts of Southeast Asia, making it hard to crack down."

The data reveals that, as of November 30, 2024, Bengaluru cybercrime victims lost a massive Rs 1,806 crore — surpassing the total losses from 2019 to 2023, which amounted to Rs 1,187 crore. Despite efforts to contain the damage, investigators were able to freeze Rs 611 crore in mule bank accounts and recover Rs 122 crore this year.