Bengaluru is reeling under an unprecedented surge in digital arrest scams, with residents collectively losing ₹572.68 crore in just 18 months. The scale of fraud translates to ₹31.8 crore vanishing every month, or ₹4.37 lakh every hour, highlighting the alarming pace at which cybercriminals are draining the city’s finances.
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Scale of digital arrest scams
Official data reveals that Bengaluru recorded 867 first information reports (FIRs) in 2024, and another 137 cases were filed by mid-2025, bringing the total to 1,004 incidents. The city alone accounts for over 80% of Karnataka’s digital arrest cases, making it the prime target for fraudsters posing as police or regulators. Victims are coerced into transferring money under fabricated threats of legal action.
The financial blow has escalated sharply. Losses stood at ₹148.84 crore in 2024 but surged to ₹423.83 crore in just the first half of 2025. Recovery remains negligible, with refunds traced in only 220 cases across both years. Authorities warn that many incidents remain unreported due to fear or stigma.
Statewide, digital arrest scams rose by more than 400% between 2024 and early 2025, even as overall cybercrime numbers declined.
With conviction rates low and scam methods evolving rapidly, experts stress the need for enhanced cyber policing and greater public awareness. For Bengaluru, the numbers underscore a disturbing reality: nearly three residents fall victim every day, and the city continues to bleed crores to sophisticated fraud networks.