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Scam
AI Deepfakes Bengaluru Cyber Crime deep fake videos Financial Scam links Scam

Deepfake of Finance Minister Lures Bengaluru Homemaker into ₹43.4 Lakh Trading Scam




A deceptive social media video that appeared to feature Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has cost a Bengaluru woman her life’s savings. The 57-year-old homemaker from East Bengaluru lost ₹43.4 lakh after being persuaded by an artificial intelligence-generated deepfake that falsely claimed the minister was recommending an online trading platform promising high profits.

Investigators say the video, which circulated on Instagram in August, directed viewers to an external link where users were encouraged to sign up for investment opportunities. Believing the message to be authentic, the woman followed the link and entered her personal information, which was later used to contact her directly.

The next day, a man identifying himself as Aarav Gupta reached out to her through WhatsApp, claiming to represent the company shown in the video. He invited her to a large WhatsApp group titled “Aastha Trade 238”, which appeared to host over a hundred participants discussing stock trades. Another contact, who introduced herself as Meena Joshi, soon joined the conversation, offering to help the victim learn how to use the firm’s trading tools.

Acting on their guidance, the homemaker downloaded an application called ACSTRADE and created an account. Meena walked her through the steps of linking her bank details, assuring her that the platform was reliable. The first transfer of ₹5,000 was made soon after, and to her surprise, the app began displaying what looked like real profits.

Encouraged by what appeared to be rapid returns, she made larger investments. The application showed her initial ₹1 lakh growing into ₹2 lakh, and a later ₹5 lakh transfer seemingly yielding ₹8 lakh. The visual proof of profit strengthened her trust, and she kept transferring higher amounts.

In September, problems surfaced. While exploring an “IPO feature” on the app, she tried to exit but was unable to do so due to recurring technical errors. When she sought help, Meena advised her to continue investing to prevent losses. The woman followed this advice, transferring a total of ₹23 lakh in hopes of recovering her funds.

Once her savings were exhausted, the scammers proposed a loan option within the same app, claiming it would help her maintain her trading record. When she attempted to withdraw money, the platform denied the request, displaying a message stating her loan account was still active. Believing the issue could be resolved with more funds, she pawned her gold jewellery at a bank and a finance company, wiring additional money to the fraudsters.

By late October, her total transfers had reached ₹43.4 lakh across 13 separate transactions between September 24 and October 27. The deception came to light only when her bank froze her account on November 1, alerting her that unusual activity had been detected.

The East Cybercrime Police Station has since registered a case under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which addresses cheating. Officers confirmed that the fraudulent video used sophisticated AI tools to mimic the minister’s voice and gestures convincingly, making it difficult for untrained viewers to identify as fake.

Police officials have urged the public to remain alert to deepfake-driven scams that exploit public trust in well-known personalities. They advise verifying any financial offer through official government portals or trusted news sources, and to avoid clicking unfamiliar links on social media.

Experts warn that such crimes surface a new wave of cyber fraud, where manipulated media is used to build false credibility. Citizens are advised never to disclose personal or banking information through unverified links, and to immediately report suspicious investment schemes to their banks or local cybercrime authorities.



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NCRB
Bengaluru Cyber Crime Cyberattacks cybersecurity concerns Cybersecurity Crisis Digital Fraud Frauds karnataka NCRB

Karnataka Tops Cybercrime Cases in India with Bengaluru Emerging as the Epicenter

 

Karnataka has earned the unfortunate distinction of being the cybercrime capital of India, accounting for more than a quarter of all reported cases in the country. According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the State registered 21,889 cybercrime incidents in 2023, representing 25.57% of the national tally. This figure placed Karnataka well ahead of Telangana, which reported 18,236 cases and ranked second. 

At the core of this rise is Bengaluru, the State’s technology hub and India’s leading IT city. The city alone recorded 17,631 cybercrime cases in 2023, making it the highest in the country. Among metropolitan cities, Bengaluru accounted for more than half—51.92%—of all cases across the 19 metros. Hyderabad followed at a distant second with 4,855 cases. The scale of the issue in Bengaluru is striking, with its cybercrime rate standing at 207.4 cases per lakh population, a figure more than seven times higher than the national average. 

The upward trend is evident in recent years. From 6,423 cases in 2021 to 9,940 in 2022, Bengaluru witnessed a sharp escalation, crossing 17,600 cases in 2023. Data indicates that fraud and sexual exploitation remain the primary motives behind the crimes. Although Karnataka logged a marginal increase to 22,468 cybercrime cases in 2024, the trajectory in 2025 has shown a slight decline, with 7,293 cases reported halfway through the year. Police officials, however, caution that while case numbers may be lower, the sophistication of scams and the financial impact on victims continue to intensify. 

Despite the surge in reporting, conviction rates remain alarmingly low. In 2023, Karnataka recorded only 44 convictions, including cases from previous years, alongside 60 acquittals. In Bengaluru, less than 0.3% of cases resulted in conviction, raising concerns about deterrence and enforcement effectiveness. Experts argue that the shortage of skilled cybercrime investigators is one of the key reasons behind the poor conviction rates.  

Senior police officers attribute the State’s high numbers to multiple factors: poor cyber hygiene, inadequate awareness, and a constantly evolving modus operandi by fraudsters. Bengaluru’s status as an IT hub also contributes, with a mixed population engaging heavily in investment platforms, e-commerce, and online trading. This has led to an increase in scams such as investment fraud and courier-related cons, often targeting educated individuals seeking higher returns. 

Cybersecurity experts warn that insufficient awareness programs and the lack of inter-State collaboration in investigations allow fraudsters to escape accountability. They emphasize that Karnataka’s newly developed Cyber Command Unit (CCU) could become a game-changer in strengthening the State’s response, particularly following the High Court’s directive to enhance its capabilities.  

Karnataka’s experience underscores a larger national challenge—while cybercrime continues to escalate, enforcement, awareness, and conviction efforts must evolve to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated digital frauds.
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job seekers
apprenticeships Bank Bengaluru Cyber Crime Government Hackers job seekers

Hackers Tamper Govt Portal, Pocket ₹1.4 Lakh in Apprentice Stipends

 



Bengaluru — A government portal designed to support apprenticeships in India has become the latest target of cybercriminals. Hackers reportedly accessed the site and changed the bank details of several registered candidates, redirecting their stipend payments into unauthorized accounts.

The breach took place on the apprenticeshipindia.gov.in website, which is managed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The platform is used by students and job seekers to apply for apprenticeship programs and receive government-backed financial support. Employers also use the site to onboard trainees and apply for partial stipend reimbursements under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).

The issue came to light after a Bengaluru-based training institute, Cadmaxx Solution Education Trust, filed a complaint with the cybercrime police. According to Arun Kumar D, the organization’s CEO and director, the hacking activity spanned several months between January 3 and July 4, during which the attackers managed to manipulate banking information for six enrolled candidates.

Once the fraudulent bank account numbers were entered into the portal, the stipend funds were transferred to accounts held with HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Axis Bank, and NSDL Payments Bank. The total amount diverted was ₹1,46,073, according to the complaint.

The cybercrime division in West Bengaluru registered an official case on July 26. Police have charged the unidentified perpetrators under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act, including those related to data tampering, unauthorized system access, and identity theft.

A senior officer involved in the case said investigators are working to trace the flow of funds by gathering account details from the banks involved. They are also reviewing server logs and IP addresses to understand how the portal was accessed whether it was through an external cyberattack or due to internal misuse.

Authorities mentioned that, if necessary, the matter will be escalated to CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team), which handles major cybersecurity incidents at the national level.

This incident raises serious concerns about the protection of financial and personal data on public service websites, especially those used by students and job seekers. It also highlights the growing trend of hackers targeting official government platforms to exploit funding systems.

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Fraud Calls
Bengaluru call scams Cyber Fraud Cyber Scam Financial Fraud Financial Scam Fraud Calls

Bengaluru Woman Loses ₹2 Lakh to Sophisticated IVR-Based Cyber Scam

 

Cyber fraud continues to evolve, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated techniques to deceive victims. In a recent case from Bengaluru, a woman lost ₹2 lakh after receiving a fraudulent automated call that mimicked her bank’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The incident underscores the growing risk of technology-driven scams that exploit human vulnerability in moments of urgency. 

The fraud occurred on January 20 when the woman received a call from a number that closely resembled that of a nationalized bank. The caller ID displayed “SBI,” making it appear as though the call was from her actual bank. The pre-recorded message on the IVR system informed her that ₹2 lakh was being transferred from her account and asked her to confirm or dispute the transaction by pressing a designated key. Startled by the alert, she followed the instructions and selected the option to deny the transfer, believing it would stop the transaction. 

However, moments after the call ended, she received a notification that ₹2 lakh had been debited from her account. Realizing she had been scammed, she rushed to her bank for assistance. The bank officials advised her to report the fraud immediately to the cybercrime helpline at 1930 and file a police complaint. Authorities registered a case under the Information Technology Act and IPC Section 318 for cheating. 

Cybercrime investigators believe this scam is more sophisticated than traditional IVR fraud. Typically, such scams involve tricking victims into providing sensitive banking details like PINs or OTPs. However, in this case, the woman did not explicitly share any credentials, making it unclear how the fraudsters managed to access her funds. 

A senior police officer suggested two possible explanations. First, the victim may have unknowingly provided critical information that enabled the scammers to complete the transaction. Second, cybercriminals may have developed a new technique capable of bypassing standard banking security measures. Investigators are now exploring whether this scam represents an emerging threat involving advanced IVR manipulation. This case serves as a stark reminder of the need for heightened awareness about cyber fraud. 

Experts warn the public to be wary of automated calls requesting banking actions, even if they appear legitimate. Banks generally do not ask customers to confirm transactions via phone calls. Customers are advised to verify any suspicious activity directly through their bank’s official app, website, or customer service helpline. 

If someone encounters a suspected scam, immediate action is crucial. Victims should contact their bank, report the fraud to cybercrime authorities, and avoid responding to similar calls in the future. By staying informed and cautious, individuals can better protect themselves from falling prey to such evolving cyber threats.
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job Frauds
Bengaluru Courier Scam Cyber Fraud Fake Investment job Frauds

AI-Led Cyber Fraud on a Rise in Bengaluru, Rs 1,788 Crore Stolen During Major Scam

 



Bengaluru emerges as the leading tech-enabled city for scams: Cyber fraud has been on an upward spiral during the period 2021 through September 2024, reports the police while citing the cumulative loss to this city as an amount of Rs 2,270 crore during the period and six major types of scams where the loss involved nearly Rs 1,788 crore.


Important Fraud Categories

The figures point to considerable losses in the following fraud types: 

Investment Frauds: Unrealistic returns promised by fraudsters led to a loss of ₹1,187.2 crore. 

Job Frauds: Losses due to fake job offers stood at ₹601.23 crore. 

Courier Scams: Well developed courier-related schemes accounted for ₹165.57 crore. 

Card Scams: Stolen card details used for fraudulent transactions resulted in losses of ₹116 crore.

Phishing Attacks: Emails and messages designed to steal personal data caused ₹96.98 crore in damages.  

Loan App Frauds: Fraudulent lending platforms resulted in ₹32.25 crore in losses.  


Challenges in Recovery

Recovery of stolen funds is still a challenge for the investigators. Police have identified two major hurdles:

Delayed Reporting: Victims mostly delay reporting frauds, and thus miss the most crucial "golden hour," when funds can be frozen.  

Lag in Banks' Response: Banks used to take up to eight days to provide account details, which adversely affected recovery operations. This is now reduced to 4-5 days, post meetings with RBI, but there is more to be achieved.


AI in Cybercrime

AI has been a gambler for scamsters in Bengaluru. Advanced technologies are being made use of to devise highly believable frauds: 

  • Voice Cloning: AI produced voice replicas make the victim believe he is communicating with his trusted contact.  
  • Improved Courier Scams: AI assists scammers to fabricate more convincing courier fraud scenarios.  
  • Fake Investment Platforms: AI interfaces mimic authentic apps, to look incredibly real.  


Proposed Solutions

To counter these emergent threats, the authorities have stressed the requirement of public education and systemic reformation. The CEN wing has suggested that: 

1. There should be a campaign for citizen education about prevailing scams. 

2. There should be better coordination among banks, the police, and regulatory bodies so that the responses are faster. 

3. A specific cybercrime wing with special resources should be developed, as already announced by the government.


Although measures to improve response times and raise awareness have shown promise, experts stress that more robust systems are needed to tackle the growing paradigm of cybercriminals. With AI reshaping the way scams operate, staying informed and cautious is now more crucial than ever.



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Scam
Bengaluru Cyber crimes Fraud porter Scam

Delivery Partners Exploit App Loophole, Defraud Logistics Company in Bengaluru

 




This is a major fraud case whereby delivery partners exploited a weakness in the logistics app Porter, syphoning Rs 90 lakh from Bengaluru. The swindle was detected by a routine business audit conducted in July by Smart Shift Logistics Solutions Pvt Ltd, which runs Porter. After this, an official of the logistics company filed a complaint with the police. Insider involvement was ruled out through automated operations.

The authorities suspected it could be an inside job when the fraud was first detected, considering the scale of the crime. They looked at the backend operations of the company and found nothing internal as most processes were automated. This led to a deep probe with Sarah Fathima, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast), assigning a team to trace the refunds made by the company since January. This series of operations was headed by ACP Govardhan Gopal, along with inspector Eshwari from the Southeast Cybercrime, Economic Offences, and Narcotics (CEN) police station.


Understanding the Scam

The investigators soon came across several refunds credited to the same accounts, and a rather clear fraud pattern began to emerge. The police were following this chain of suspicious transactions when it led them to a Shreyas TL, a 29-year-old from Hassan's Hirisave. Based on confession questioning of Shreyas, the police managed to seize three others: Kaushik KS, aged 26, from Mandya, Ranganath PR, also 26, and Anand Kumar, 30, both from Mandya.

These were earlier cab drivers and food delivery partners for various online applications who chanced upon loopholes in the Porter app after dabbling in such scams in other delivery services. They eventually managed to pinpoint how to exploit the Porter system through trial and error for their financial gains.


How the scam was run

Porter has a system where the driver can get a part of the total bill through his wallet whenever he accepts the job. And if he rejects the delivery, he will have his money back automatically. The application does not allow abusing this system, and therefore it has a strict cancellation policy where it blacklists the drivers in case they cancel two deliveries consecutively.

The fraudsters bypassed the system. Geo-spoofing is an application of the technology, using which they manipulated the app so as to pose their locations at places where there are few available drivers. This way, they accepted the jobs using their fake delivery accounts. The amount of the bill was credited to their digital wallets. Then the amount was drawn from these wallets into bank accounts. They canceled the delivery, and customers canceled the order and received a refund.

The reason they did not get blacklisted was because of repeated cancellations, so to avoid that, the gang bought fake phone numbers from Telegram groups and created new accounts on the app with them. Additionally, the gang practiced geo-spoofing to change their location into neighbouring states, making it hard for the authorities to trace them.


A Perfected Scam

The operation of the gang was so sophisticated that they managed to make off with a total of Rs 90 lakh from the company. Taking advantage of loopholes in the automation of the app, they had syphoned off the amount without raising any suspicion in the beginning. But finally, after going through a detailed investigation, it was traced by the police, and the fraudsters were caught.

This case shines a light on the importance of secure and foolproof systems in online platforms, especially those handling financial transactions. It also highlights the need to frequently audit and monitor company automated processes to detect fraud before it gets out of hand.




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Online fraud
Bengaluru Cyber bullying Cyber Crime Extortion Goa Online fraud

Bengaluru Man Arrested for Exploiting Woman in Online Interview

 



Panaji: In a disturbing cybercrime case, the Goa Cyber Crime Police arrested a Bengaluru resident, Mohan Raj V, for allegedly cyberbullying and extorting a woman from Goa. The arrest was made on Saturday after a strategic operation by the police team.

The case began when the victim, a woman from Goa, filed a complaint with the cyber crime police. She reported that the accused had posted a fake job advertisement for a position at a foreign bank. Responding to the advertisement, the woman was contacted via a chatting app by the accused, who arranged an online interview. During the video call, individuals posing as company representatives coerced the woman into undressing. They recorded the video and took screenshots, which were later used to blackmail her.

According to the complaint, the accused demanded sexual favours in exchange for deleting the compromising material. Over the past two months, he persistently harassed the woman, threatening to make the videos and pictures public if she did not comply. He also demanded that she meet him in Bengaluru.

Following the complaint, the police, led by Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta, devised a plan to apprehend the accused. A team, including the victim, travelled to Bengaluru and laid a trap. After extensive efforts and a lengthy chase, the accused was caught when he arrived to meet the victim. The police recovered the chats and videos from the accused's phone, which will be sent for a cyber forensic examination.

The investigation revealed that Mohan Raj V used VPN phone numbers to create fake Telegram accounts and post fraudulent job offers. He targeted women by promising high salary packages and conducting fake online interviews.

The accused has confessed to his crimes and has been booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including section 354A (sexual harassment), section 384 (extortion), and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. The case is being further investigated by Police Inspector Deepak Pednekar.

SP Rahul Gupta urged the public to verify the authenticity of online job offers through local or cyber police stations before engaging with them. He also cautioned against complying with unethical online demands, no matter the promised benefits.

This case highlights the growing menace of cybercrime and the importance of vigilance in online interactions. The Goa Cyber Crime Police's successful operation furthers the cause for robust cyber security measures and public awareness to prevent such incidents.



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Money Laundering
Bank Scam Bengaluru Cyber Crime Fraud Money Laundering

Digital Arrest Scam: Bengaluru Man Loses Rs 3.8 Crore to Scammers


A 73-year-old man recently lost Rs 3.8 crore due to the 'digital arrest' threat posed by fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officers. The fraudsters held him under 'digital arrest' from May 5 to 10, saying that he was under Mumbai police monitoring because a parcel shipped in his name to Taiwan contained drugs.

The Setup

It all started on May 5 at 10 a.m., when Rajkumar (name changed), an Indiranagar resident and retired MNC executive, got a call from 8861447031. The caller claimed as a 'FedEx' logistics executive and supplied Rajkumar's Aadhaar and mobile numbers. 

He said that a package shipped to Taiwan under Shankar's name contained five passports, a laptop, 3kg of clothing, and 150 grams of MDMA. He forwarded the phone to a "police officer" after claiming a case against him had been filed at Mumbai's Andheri East cyber police station.

The Deception

A man claimed to be Rajesh Pradhan, DCP (Cybercrime), Andheri and informed Shankar that he was under digital arrest until the inquiry was completed. They warned to arrest him if he left his residence and instructed him to isolate himself in a room. Later, they made a video call to him, and Shankar noticed a police station in the backdrop and assumed he was speaking with actual cops.

Pradhan informed Rajkumar that this was a high-profile and sensitive matter involving VIPs. He was told not to mention their call with anybody and threatened with arrest if he did not obey their instructions. 

The Money Transfer

The con artist added that they discovered a bank account opened in his name that was being used for money laundering. They allegedly examined the charges against him, which included money laundering, NDPS, and other criminal actions, before offering to assist him. 

To protect the account, he was ordered to move the full balance in his bank accounts to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accounts.

The Aftermath

After promising to repay him after his transactions were verified, they convinced Shankar to send money to their accounts in several transactions. 

After transferring Rs 3.8 crore, Rajkumar was promised that the return would be in his account within 30 minutes of verification and the connection was discontinued. Rajkumar only realized he had been duped after the crooks went mute.

The digital arrest is fake: DCP

According to Kuldeep Kumar Jain, DCP (East), Shankar submitted a report on May 13, and they were able to freeze Rs 9 lakh within two days.

A case has been filed under the Information Technology Act and IPC section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).

According to Jain, such claims should not be taken seriously. The police force has no idea of digital arrests or online (virtual) investigations. If you receive such calls, simply disconnect and report them to your nearest police station or the 1930 cyber helpline. If you lose any money, you should contact the police right away. Delays in filing complaints will have an impact on recovery rates.

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