Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Dec 30: A total of 134 cyber fraud cases were registered under the city police commissionerate in 2024, with victims losing Rs 40.46 crore to fraudsters. The police have arrested 42 individuals in connection with these crimes, according to City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal.
Agarwal further explained, “Out of the Rs 40,46,75,693 fraudulently transferred from the victims' accounts, Rs 9,32,54,814 has been blocked during the transfer process, and Rs 2,55,45,764 has been returned to the complainants.”
Of the total cases, 62 complaints were registered at the CEN police station, while 72 complaints were filed at other stations. In comparison, 196 cases were registered in CEN police station in 2023, with 40 at other stations. The total amount defrauded in 2023 was Rs 9.83 crore, with Rs 1.17 crore refunded to the victims.
In 2024, the majority of the fraud involved investment schemes, with Rs 30,36,61,299 defrauded in 67 cases related to investment frauds. Additionally, Rs 7,07,99,645 was swindled in 25 cases of FedEx digital arrest, courier, and customs frauds.
Other fraud categories include:
• Job-related scams: 8 cases, amounting to Rs 1,21,64,788.
• Marriage-related frauds: 4 cases, totaling Rs 60,46,708.
• Online shopping (OLX) frauds: 3 cases, involving Rs 5,93,626.
• Share market investment frauds: 5 cases, defrauding Rs 41,96,000.
• Advertising frauds: 4 cases, amounting to Rs 50,000.
• KYC update frauds: 3 cases, involving Rs 8,35,000.
• Other types of fraud: 15 cases, totaling Rs 63,28,622.
Agarwal also mentioned that 42 individuals have been arrested in connection with these cyber fraud cases, including 15 from Karnataka, one each from Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, New Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, two from Andhra Pradesh, nine from Tamil Nadu, and 11 from Kerala.
So far, 215 FIRs have been registered out of 5,498 complaints filed on the National Portal, with 4,907 cases closed and 591 pending. Among these, 10 cases involve women, and eight pertain to children.
In an effort to raise awareness, the police have conducted 217 awareness programs across schools, colleges, residential areas, and workplaces within the commissionerate limits.