Karnataka freezes Rs 436 crore in cyber fraud cases, ranks second in India
Karnataka has secured the second position in the country by freezing Rs 436 crore linked to cyber fraud through effective action by police and cybercrime units
The state of Karnataka has recorded a major achievement in tackling cybercrime by successfully freezing Rs 436 crore that was linked to online fraud cases. This places Karnataka second in India for recovery and prevention of cyber fraud losses.
Home Minister and IT, BT, and e governance minister Priyank Kharge said the police department has been able to protect citizens money by acting quickly on fraudulent transactions. He shared these details during his visit to the police wireless headquarters on MG Road in Bengaluru, where he reviewed operations and spoke with senior officials.
According to the government statement, the police have used the lien mark process to freeze money that was transferred through cyber fraud networks. This system has helped authorities act faster and prevent stolen funds from being withdrawn or moved further.
Karnataka has frozen about seventeen percent of the total reported cyber fraud losses in the state. Officials said Maharashtra has taken the top spot by freezing Rs 548 crore, while Karnataka follows closely with Rs 436 crore, both showing strong recovery rates compared to overall reported losses.
Maharashtra reported losses of Rs 3203 crore, while Karnataka reported losses of Rs 2640 crore. In both states, authorities have been able to freeze around seventeen percent of the lost amounts through coordinated cybercrime response systems.
Officials also noted a sharp rise in cybercrime reporting after the introduction of dedicated complaint systems. A web platform launched in 2025 and a WhatsApp based chatbot introduced in 2026 have made it easier for citizens to report fraud and seek help quickly.