Cybercrime trends in Bengaluru show a significant decline in OTP and phishing scams but a sharp rise in advanced fraud schemes, leading to massive financial losses for victims.
Key highlights:
- Traditional scams declining:
- OTP scams fell by 51.98%, from 1,860 cases in 2022 to 893 in 2024 (up to November).
- Phishing cases dropped by 68.09%, from 605 in 2022 to 193 in 2024.
- Emerging cybercrime patterns:
- Investment scams surged by 1,288.56%, from 411 cases in 2022 to 5,707 in 2024.
- FedEx courier frauds rose by 251.61%, from 403 cases in 2023 to 1,417 in 2024.
- Deepfake crimes increased from 3 cases in 2023 to 20 in 2024.
Financial toll:
- Victims in Bengaluru lost ₹1,806 crore in 2024, exceeding the total of ₹1,187 crore lost between 2019 and 2023.
- Investigators froze ₹611 crore in mule accounts and recovered ₹122 crore this year.
Challenges in enforcement:
- Scams are increasingly orchestrated by global networks, with many kingpins based in China and Southeast Asia.
- Use of advanced technologies like AI makes these crimes more sophisticated and harder to combat.
Most reported scams in 2024:
- Investment frauds (5,707 cases)
- Job frauds (1,423 cases)
- FedEx scams (1,417 cases)
Authorities highlighted the evolving nature of cybercrime and the growing difficulty in tackling such technologically advanced frauds.
Official Statement from FedEx:
FedEx does not request personal information through unsolicited phone calls, mail, or email for goods being shipped or held, unless requested or initiated by customers. If any individual receives any suspicious phone calls or messages, they are advised not to provide their personal information. Instead, they should immediately contact the local law enforcement authorities within the vicinity or report to the cybercrime department of the government of India.