53,252 cyber cases, Rs 4,341 crore wasted: Bengaluru struggles to recover from losses. Bengaluru-News News

Bengaluru’s status as India’s technology capital has long been a point of pride, but recent cyber crime data reveals a parallel reality that is much less reassuring. Over the past 45 months, the city has seen a surge in cyber fraud cases, draining residents of Rs 4,341 crore, highlighting serious gaps in digital awareness, enforcement capacity and recovery mechanisms.

Between 2022 and the beginning of 2025, a total of 53,252 cyber crime cases were officially recorded in the city. Police officials caution that this figure probably underrepresents the true scale of cyber fraud, as many victims either report too late or avoid reporting due to embarrassment or the belief that recovery is unlikely.

Complaints increasing faster than enforcement capacity

Bengaluru currently has 8 dedicated cyber crime police stations, which together receive more than 10 new complaints every day. Investigators say the nature of scams has become increasingly sophisticated, making detection and response more complex.

Online investment frauds, fake trading platforms, impersonation calls, KYC update messages, OTP theft and UPI-based scams dominate the complaint pipeline. In many cases, victims are lured with carefully crafted promises of high returns or threats of account suspension, forcing them to make hasty decisions.

While public advisories are issued regularly, the diversity and speed of these frauds continues to overwhelm both victims and investigation teams.

Losses are increasing, no recovery

The most worrying aspect of the data is not how much money is being lost, but how little of it is coming back. Of the total loss of Rs 4,341 crore reported during the 45-month period, the police have been able to recover only Rs 360 crore. Of this, Rs 334 crore has actually been returned to the complainants.

In fact, less than 10 percent of the stolen money ever makes its way back to the victims. Even when funds are traced and temporarily deposited, they are often sent through multiple accounts and withdrawn rapidly, reducing the chances of full recovery.

What the year-over-year data shows

A look at the year-wise data shows how rapidly cyber fraud has increased in Bengaluru.

In 2022, 9,902 cyber crime cases were registered in the city, causing a loss of Rs 281 crore. The following year complaints increased to 17,797 cases, while losses more than doubled to Rs 680 crore.

The most dramatic change occurred in 2024. Despite the same number of cases at 17,692, the loss increased to Rs 1,995 crore. This suggests that fraudsters were charging significantly higher amounts per victim, pointing to more targeted and financially devastating scams.

Even in 2025, while the year is still ongoing, Bengaluru has already recorded 7,961 cases with a loss of Rs 1,385 crore, raising concerns that the final numbers could be as high as or higher than previous years if trends continue.

Year wise cyber fraud data in Bengaluru (45 months)

Why is it difficult to detect cyber criminals?

Police officials say several factors complicate cyber crime investigations. Many fraud networks operate from outside the country using foreign servers and secret IP addresses. Bank accounts are often opened using stolen or misused identity documents, while the money itself is divided and transferred into multiple layers within minutes.

By the time a complaint is formally registered and verified, the transaction has often cooled.

Awareness remains the first line of defense

Given these challenges, enforcement agencies emphasize that public awareness is the most effective security measure. Citizens are repeatedly advised not to click on unknown links, not to trust messages promising unusually high profits and never share OTP or KYC details over calls or messages.

For a city driven by digital systems and convenience, cyber crime statistics serve as a sobering reminder. Technology can enable growth, but without caution and awareness, it also creates new vulnerabilities – which can empty bank accounts faster than systems can respond.