Sharp drop in phishing, OTP scams in Bengaluru as new-age cybercrimes evolve

According to data accessed by DH, the city reported 1,860 cases of OTP scams in 2022. The number fell to 1,334 in 2023 and declined further to 893 in 2024 (until November). In short, the cases declined by 51.98% from 2022 to 2024.

Bengaluru: One Time Password (OTP) scams and phishing, which used to top the cybercrime chart in Bengaluru, have been falling drastically. 

At the same time, more sophisticated scams, including digital arrests, have risen significantly. 

According to data accessed by DH, the city reported 1,860 cases of OTP scams in 2022. The number fell to 1,334 in 2023 and declined further to 893 in 2024 (until November). In short, the cases declined by 51.98 per cent from 2022 to 2024. 

Similarly, phishing — a type of cyberattack in the form of emails, text messages and phone calls to steal sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, etc — fell from 605 in 2022 to 193 in 2024, which is a 68.09 per cent decline. 

However, 2024 saw a major shift in the trend in cybercrimes, with victims losing lakhs, and in many instances crores of rupees, to fraudulent stock investment schemes and sophisticated scams like FedEx courier and digital arrest scams. 

As per the data, in 2022, only 411 cases of investment scams (part-time jobs, task completion and stock trading) were reported. In 2023, the number rose to 3,754 and in 2024 till November 30, it stood at 5,707. From 2022 to 2024, the cases increased by a whopping 1,288.56 per cent. 

FedEx fraud cases, which involve holding the victim under duress by claiming that a package in their name contained illegal items and an arrest was due, rose from 403 cases in 2023 to 1,417 in 2024 — a 251.61 per cent rise, the data showed. No cases were reported in 2022. Twenty cases related to deepfakes — which involve using AI to create fake visuals — were reported in 2024, compared to 3 in 2023 and 0 in 2022. 

Among the 30 different types of cybercrimes categorised by the police, the most in 2024 were investment frauds (5,707), followed by job frauds (1,423) and FedEx frauds (1,417). 

Investigators told DH that there was an evolution in cybercrime cases reported in Bengaluru and across the state. 

"Phishing and OTP scams were more commonly done by scamsters who were in parts of India like Jamtara, Haryana, Rajasthan, etc," a senior cybercrime investigator said. 

Another officer said: "In 2023 and mainly in 2024, we saw a major evolution in cybercrimes. Now, aided by technology and Artificial Intelligence, the scams are more sophisticated and well-orchestrated. The kingpins are also located in China and parts of Southeast Asia making it hard to crackdown." 

Over Rs 1.8k cr lost in ‘24

According to the data, till November 30, 2024, cybercrime victims in Bengaluru lost a whopping Rs 1,806 crore, more than the combined amount lost from 2019 to 2023 (Rs 1,187 crore). Investigators managed to freeze Rs 611 crore in mule bank accounts and recovered Rs 122 crore in 2024.