India’s technology hub Bengaluru has emerged as the metropolitan city with the highest number of reported cybercrime cases, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau data. The figures highlight the growing challenge of tackling online fraud and digital crimes in one of the country’s largest tech ecosystems.
The NCRB’s Crime in India 2024 report revealed that Bengaluru accounted for 17,561 cybercrime cases out of the total 20,587 cases reported across 19 metro cities. Although slightly lower than the 17,631 cases reported in 2023, the numbers remain significantly higher than the 9,940 cases recorded in 2022.
The city also registered the highest cybercrime rate among metros at 206.6 cases per 1 lakh population. However, the chargesheeting rate stood at only 24.2%, lower than cities such as Delhi and Chennai.
Online impersonation fraud emerged as the most common cyber offence in Bengaluru. Authorities registered 16,657 cases under “cheating by personation using computer resources.” Across all metro cities, similar offences reached 18,131 cases. The rise comes amid increasing reports of “digital arrest” scams nationwide.
The report also recorded several cases linked to identity theft and the publication or transmission of obscene or sexually explicit content online. Interestingly, zero cases were reported in categories such as cyber stalking, bullying of women or children, online banking fraud, OTP fraud, gaming app fraud, cyber blackmailing, fake news, and data theft.
Despite the large number of reported crimes, conviction rates remained extremely low. Out of 5,431 cybercrime cases that went to trial in 2024, only 3 resulted in convictions. Around 45 cases ended in acquittals, while 3,640 cases were disposed of without trial. The conviction rate stood at just 6.3%.
Karnataka ranked second in India for cybercrime cases after Telangana, recording 21,993 cases in 2024. The state also reported the highest number of cybercrimes against women, with 6,325 cases out of the national total of 18,615. Additionally, 96 cybercrime cases against children were reported.
Authorities identified fraud as the primary motive behind most cybercrimes in both Bengaluru and Karnataka.
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