The cyber crime scenario in Karnataka has taken a drastic turn over the past two years, with a significant increase in reported incidents. According to data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the number of complaints registered in 2022 was 20,894, which surged to 97,929 in 2024. This spike in cyber crimes has resulted in a substantial financial loss, escalating from Rs 113 crore in 2022 to a staggering Rs 2,396 crore in 2024. Despite the efforts of the police to recover the stolen funds, only Rs 226 crore, a mere 9% of the total amount lost to fraud, was successfully retrieved in 2024.
The unveiling of the upgraded cyber crime helpline, 1930, at the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) premises on MG Road aims to tackle this rising trend of cyber crimes in the state. DG&IGP Alok Mohan highlighted that the enhanced system is designed to provide citizens with timely and effective assistance in addressing cyber crimes. The key features of this upgraded system include a voice-guided WebBOT and a self-service mechanism activated via SMS, enabling individuals to lodge complaints even during peak call times.
Furthermore, the multilingual IVR system offers support in three languages – Kannada, English, and Hindi – to cater to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the state’s residents. The system categorizes and prioritizes calls based on the nature of the complaint, such as financial fraud, non-financial fraud, status inquiries, or cybercrime-related grievances. Additionally, complainants can expect real-time updates on their queue position and complaint status through SMS notifications. The system also assists investigators by providing suspect and victim profiling, thereby collecting actionable intelligence on fraud patterns to aid in the investigation process.
With the implementation of the new system, significant progress has already been made in addressing cyber crimes in Karnataka. In the first quarter of 2025, through the helpline-1930, a total of 38,000 cases were registered. The department succeeded in blocking 16% of the funds from reaching the fraudsters, showcasing the effectiveness of the upgraded cyber crime helpline in combating cyber crimes in the state.
Overall, the surge in cyber crimes in Karnataka has prompted authorities to enhance their response mechanisms and implement advanced technologies to combat this growing threat effectively. The upgraded cyber crime helpline is poised to play a pivotal role in providing citizens with the necessary support and assistance to safeguard themselves against cyber threats and mitigate the financial losses incurred due to cyber crimes.