As per the data shared by the Karnataka home department, nearly Rs 1 crore on an average was stolen every day by cyber fraudsters in 2022 from individuals.
722 Crores Lost by Karnataka Since 2019 Till Date
The money siphoned off by these crimes has seen a surge of 150% and as per the data shared, the state lost a whopping Rs 363 crore in 2022. Since 2019 till date, the number is Rs 722 crore.
Going a bit further, the home department said that in the year 2022, it was able to recover 12 % of Rs 363,11,54,443, i.e. 46,87,89,415.
In the previous year 2021, the state lost Rs 145,05,85,810 to cybercrimes.
Even in 2023, there are no signs of slowing down as in the first month of year itself there have been cases of 1,325 cybercrimes in which several individuals lost Rs 36.63 crore to the scamsters.
As per the official data, when we go city wise, then with a total money lost of 266 crores comes Bengaluru, followed by a distant second Mysuru with 14 crores and Mandya with 13 crores as third.
As compared to 2021’s 8132 cases, the number in 2022 skyrocketed as it stood at 12551.
As per the police, the recovery of money lost in cyber-crimes is strikingly difficult due to various factors like digital wallets, delay in reporting the crime and lack of coordination among states.
The police officer said that “Whatever recovery has been made is with the help of Cyber Crime Information Report (CIR). Also we need to accept that the state has a good mechanism to report cyber-crimes with CEN police stations at every division level in Bengaluru and one each at the districts of the state”.
A senior officer said that due to increased dependence of digital payment applications post Covid-19, the mode of cybercrimes has changed a lot.
The officer said that “Like earlier days, cyber criminals won’t be asking for One Time Password (OTP) or engaged in Skimming, largely. Cyber education is very much essential at schools as internet crimes are likely to increase in the days to come”.
In a response to create awareness among the public by distributing cyber awareness books and is also trying to educate children against cyber bullying.
The Home Department in its response said that it has been making efforts to create awareness among the public by distributing cyber awareness books and is also trying to educate children against cyber bullying.
Cybercrime Data
| Year | Total Cases | Money Lost | Money Recovered |
| 2019 | Rs 71,27,19,806 | Rs 8,59,45,570 | |
| 2020 | 10,738 | Rs 1,05,99,55,357 | Rs 14,83,49,627 |
| 2021 | 8,132 | Rs 1,45,05,85,810 | Rs 25,96,33,607 |
| 2022 | 12,551 | Rs 3,63,11,54,443 | Rs 46,87,89,415 |
| 2023(Till January) | 1,325 | Rs 36,63,82,797 | Rs 1,03,44,045 |
The numbers are ominous and all seems to not be well when it comes to cyber security.
Let’s see how the state plans to cope up with this menace. We would advise you to be vigilant and aware of such happenings and ask you to study basics of cyber awareness. Till then….
