Mangaluru: 134 Cyber crime cases reported in 2024, Rs 40.46 crore duped

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate recorded 134 cyber fraud cases in 2024, with fraudsters duping victims of Rs 40.46 crore. Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal revealed that 42 accused have been arrested in connection with these cases.

Out of the total cases, 62 were registered at the Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) Police Station, and 72 at other stations. Fraud categories include: Investment Scams: 67 cases amounting to Rs 30.36 crore; FedEx, Customs, and Courier Scams: 25 cases involving Rs 7.07 crore; Job Fraud: 8 cases totaling Rs 1.21 crore; Matrimonial Fraud: 4 cases with Rs 60.46 lakh; OLX/Online Shopping Fraud: 3 cases amounting to Rs 5.93 lakh and Stock Market Fraud: 5 cases involving Rs 41.96 lakh

Additionally, KYC-related scams accounted for Rs 8.35 lakh in losses.

Arrests and Recoveries

The police arrested 42 accused, including individuals from Karnataka (15), Tamil Nadu (9), Kerala (11), and others from Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

Out of Rs 40.46 crore siphoned off, Rs 9.32 crore was frozen in accounts, and Rs 2.55 crore was refunded to victims, police added.

Awareness Initiatives

The Commissionerate conducted 217 awareness programs in schools, colleges, and residential areas to educate the public about cyber threats. Additionally, the National Portal received 5,498 complaints, of which FIRs were filed in 215 cases.

The police urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly.