Although cybercrime is typically associated with cities, Karnataka’s rural regions have seen a dramatic rise in such offenses over the past two years. In 2022, 880 cases emerged from rural districts, but by 2024, that number had nearly doubled to 1,600. Tribal areas, too, saw a spike—from zero in 2022 to 12 incidents in 2024.
Experts attribute this increase to rising internet penetration and digital usage in rural belts. “Cybercrimes follow connectivity. Wherever the internet reaches, the potential for cyber fraud exists,” said M.A. Saleem, Director General of Police, CID. N.A. Vijay Shankar, head of the Digital Society Foundation, highlighted that cybercriminals usually operate at random. “They call indiscriminately, and whoever engages often becomes a victim. The more people go online, the more vulnerable they are,” he explained.
Shankar also pointed out that easier complaint mechanisms, such as dialing 1930 or lodging online reports, have likely led to more incidents being formally reported.
According to police officials, scams in rural regions mirror those seen in urban areas. Common crimes include part-time job frauds, extortion using doctored photos, and schemes tricking people with promises of government benefits. “The patterns of deceit are nearly identical to those found in cities,” noted Dr. Bheemashankar Guled, SP of Belagavi.
Tragically, a recent case in Khanapur involved an elderly couple who took their lives after fearing digital arrest—a reflection of growing fear and confusion around cyber threats.
In response, the home department has launched awareness initiatives, including school programs and pamphlet distributions, to combat rural cybercrime.
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