Karnataka has lost more than ₹5,474 crore to cyber fraud over the past three years, Home Minister G Parameshwara informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, underlining the growing scale and sophistication of digital crimes in the state.
Replying to a question on the surge in cyber fraud, Parameshwara presented official data showing a steady rise in cases alongside a worrying decline in detection rates.
According to figures tabled in the House, Karnataka registered 22,255 cybercrime cases in 2023, 22,478 in 2024, and 13,000 cases so far in 2025.
However, the number of cases successfully solved has dropped sharply. While 6,159 cases were detected in 2023, the figure fell to 3,549 in 2024 and further to 1,009 cases in 2025 to date, highlighting mounting challenges for law enforcement agencies.
The financial losses caused by cyber fraud have escalated significantly during the same period. Fraudsters siphoned off ₹873.29 crore in 2023, ₹2,562.63 crore in 2024, and ₹2,038.84 crore so far this year, taking the cumulative loss to ₹5,474.76 crore, the data showed.
Explaining the reasons behind the spike, the Home Minister said the rapid growth in internet users across Karnataka has expanded the pool of potential victims, while low levels of digital literacy and awareness continue to make citizens vulnerable to online scams. He noted that cybercriminals increasingly rely on VPNs, encrypted messaging platforms and dark-web tools to evade detection.
Parameshwara also pointed to the unregulated expansion of digital payment systems, which has opened new avenues for fraud, along with broader socio-economic factors such as unemployment, poverty, urban stress, excessive social media exposure and declining moral values, all of which have contributed to the rise in cyber offences.
The government further acknowledged systemic hurdles, including limited law enforcement capacity to deal with cybercrime and prolonged judicial delays, which it said are weakening deterrence and slowing convictions in cyber fraud cases.
