Karnataka is grappling with soaring cybercrime rates, as victims, including government employees and tech professionals, lose staggering amounts to fraudsters impersonated as officials from various law enforcement agencies. The state's recent cybercrime statistics reveal troubling trends, as authorities strive to combat this burgeoning crisis.
On Tuesday, police reported the case of B.S. Nagabhushan, a government employee from Upparahalli, who fell victim to a sophisticated scam involving what is known as a âdigital arrestâ. After being allegedly tricked by cybercriminals posing as officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch, Nagabhushan lost Rs 19 lakh. The fraudster called him, falsely claiming he was under investigation for illegal transactions linked to his identity.
The scam unfolded dramatically when, after confronting the victim with threats of property seizure and arrest, the impersonator directed him to transfer funds for âsafekeeping.â Following six hours of pressure-filled communication, Nagabhushan transferred the substantial amount, believing it would be returned post-investigation. It was not.
Even more staggering is the case of Vijaykumar, a 39-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru, who lost Rs 11.8 crore over similar claims of misuse of his Aadhaar card. Between November 25 and December 12, he received multiple fraudulent calls where impersonators posed as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officials and Mumbai police officers. The fraudsters built upon layers of threats and legal intimidation, eventually convincing him to transfer vast amounts under the guise of compliance and investigation.
According to police statements, the fraudsters warned Vijaykumar not to share any information about the investigation. They even asked him to download the Skype app for visual verification, where they continued to perpetrate their ruse by appearing as police personnel. His fear of arrest led to the tragic financial loss.
This alarming rise of cybercrimes is substantiated by official data indicating Karnataka lost Rs 221.17 crore over the past three years. With only 21% of the funds recovered, the statistics highlight a shocking reality of unrecoverable losses and inefficient case resolutions. Bengaluru alone has seen Rs 129 crore lost to cybercrime, as stated by Home Minister Araga Jnanendra.
Adding to the crisis, there have been additional arrests, including six persons held for defrauding Rs 56 lakh from another company. They utilized deceptive impersonation tactics, messaging employees under the guise of the company's Managing Director to convince them to facilitate urgent fund transfers. The police commissioner revealed the operation's mechanics at a press conference, emphasizing the dangers of trusting communications without verification.
While the government has established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to tackle these issues more effectively, the success and efficiency of this unit remain pivotal. According to officials, the centre has managed to block over 1,700 Skype accounts associated with cybercrimes, but it's clear more preventive measures are necessary.
The increase of cybercrimes related to phishing, one-time passwords (OTPs), and social media scams has only intensified post-pandemic, exposing the vulnerabilities of individuals who may fall prey due to lacking knowledge or underestimations of digital threats.
With the alarming financial impacts and the reiteration of claims by officials, including Director General of Police Praveen Sood, who noted threats stemming from forgery and greed, public awareness about cyber safety is imperative. The police continue to advise citizens to remain vigilant, stressing legitimate law enforcement entities will never request immediate money transfers under duress.
Despite the proactive measures by the central government, including alerts concerning impersonation scams purportedly initiated by various law enforcement agencies, the public's continued vulnerability necessitates increased educational efforts about digital fraud.
Hence, this surge of cybercrime demonstrates not only the need for stringent law enforcement actions but also for comprehensive community awareness programs to mitigate the risk and guide individuals against the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by these criminals.
