Is Your City Safe Online? Why Bengaluru Tops India's Cybercrime Chart — By A Massive Margin

India’s technology capital has a grimmer distinction to go with its global reputation. According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Bengaluru recorded 17,561 cybercrime cases in 2024 — more than any other metropolitan city in the country, and over half of all cybercrime cases reported across India’s top cities combined.

Karnataka as a state reported 21,993 cybercrimes in 2024, meaning Bengaluru alone accounts for the vast majority of cases within the state. Nationally, the cybercrime rate rose from 6.2 to 7.3, with fraud constituting 72.6% of all cases. For a city that runs on digital transactions, startup culture, and remote work, the numbers land close to home.

How Bad Is It, Really?

Delhi, by comparison, saw registered cybercrime

cases fall sharply — from 685 in 2022 to just 404 in 2024. Bengaluru’s 17,561 cases dwarfs every other metro. Hyderabad and Mumbai, which ranked behind Bengaluru in previous years, remain a fraction of its numbers. The city isn’t just leading — it is in a different category altogether.

What Are People Actually Falling Victim To?

Fraud and online cheating dominate the case breakdown, consistent with national trends. Out of all motives for cybercrime nationally, fraud topped the list, followed by sexual exploitation and extortion.

Other motives included personal revenge, anger, causing disrepute, and political motives. For Bengaluru residents, that translates to investment scams, UPI fraud, impersonation, and job offer cons — crimes that have become disturbingly routine.

Is Better Reporting Part Of The Story?

Police have cited better reporting systems as a factor behind Bengaluru’s high numbers — suggesting the figure may reflect growing awareness and trust in the system as much as a rise in actual crime.

The charge-sheeting rate in 2023 stood at 33.7%, with at least 6,895 fraud cases found genuine but closed due to insufficient evidence, untraced suspects, or lack of clues — a reminder that reporting a case and resolving it remain two very different things.