Mangaluru has lost over ₹100 cr. to cyber fraud: Police Commissioner

Mangaluru residents lost over ₹100 crore to cyber fraud, warns Police Commissioner at a drug awareness and cyber safety run.

Over 2,000 individuals took part in the run in Mangaluru on Sunday. | Photo Credit: H.S. Manjunath

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy stated that residents of the city have lost over ₹100 crore to cyber fraud in the last 26 months, cautioning people against falling prey to online investment schemes, digital arrest scams and other modes of cheating used by cyber criminals.

Addressing the crowd before flagging off the ‘Run for Drug Free Karnataka and Cyber Safety’ event in Mangaluru on Sunday, Mr. Reddy said people have been lured by fraudsters offering attractive interest rates and other fraudulent means, resulting in losses exceeding ₹100 crore in 2024, 2025, and the first two months of 2026.

“You should be aware that there is no shortcut to earning money,” he said, noting the cases of two individuals in the city who recently fell victim to online investment scams and lost ₹1.20 crore and ₹85,000, respectively. Mr. Reddy advised the people gathered to invest only through SEBI-registered firms.

Emphasising the importance of reporting fraud incidents within one hour of the loss, Mr. Reddy stated, “This will enable the police to block the transfer and potentially recover the funds. If the report is delayed beyond 24 hours, fraudsters may move the money overseas, making recovery much more challenging.”

He also urged banking personnel to closely monitor their customers’ financial transactions. Recently, he noted, staff at a public sector bank alerted the police, which led to the successful rescue of funds belonging to a senior citizen couple who were victims of a digital arrest.