Karnataka sees surge in cybercrime helpline calls, faster reporting boosts recovery

Karnataka’s cybercrime helpline 1930 saw calls surge to 24 lakh in 2025; quick reporting boosted fund recovery, freezing ₹436 crore despite heavy losses

Karnataka has witnessed a dramatic rise in calls to the national cybercrime helpline 1930, reflecting growing public awareness about reporting online frauds. Police data shows calls jumped from 1.3 lakh in 2022 to over 24 lakh in 2025, marking a nearly twenty-fold increase in just four years.

According to Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) M A Saleem, the surge highlights how citizens are increasingly turning to the helpline to report scams. He stressed the importance of the ‘golden hour’—the first 60 to 90 minutes after a fraud occurs—when quick reporting significantly improves the chances of freezing stolen funds before they are withdrawn from mule accounts.

The helpline, operational since December 2021, has become a critical tool in combating cybercrime. Victims are urged to call immediately and share all relevant documents to aid investigations. Saleem noted that overall cybercrime cases fell in 2025 due to heightened awareness and proactive measures such as deactivating suspects’ mobile numbers.

Also Read: Bengaluru’s six IT micro markets set to dominate in 2026

Financial losses, however, remain substantial. In 2022, victims lost Rs 113 crore, with Rs 8 crore successfully frozen. By 2025, losses had soared to Rs 2,640 crore, though police managed to freeze Rs 436 crore.

DCP (Crime) Raja Imam Kasim observed that while call volumes show rising awareness, truly rapid responses remain limited. He cited a recent email spoofing case where Rs 2.2 crore was fully recovered because the victim contacted 1930 within 20 minutes, enabling swift fund seizure.

Police officials reiterated that delays in reporting give fraudsters time to move money beyond traceable accounts. If helpline lines are busy, victims can also lodge complaints through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in.

Also Read: BMTC cracks down on QR code fraud, moves to dynamic scanner system after conductor scam