Cybercriminals in Karnataka are changing their tricks. Scams now happen over several days and money is stolen in many parts. This delays victims from reporting crimes quickly. Police say scammers use these new methods to steal more money and create complex mule account networks. This makes it hard for police to detect and recover money. Home Minister G. Parameshwara said the recovery rate in cybercrime cases dropped to 6.2% in 2024 from 12.6% last year and 20.2% in 2023. Karnataka recorded 22,255 cybercrime cases in 2023 with losses of ₹873.29 crore. In 2024, cases rose slightly to 22,478, but losses jumped to ₹2,562 crore. By November 2024, ₹2,038 crore was lost in 13,000 cases. Shivaling Salakki from CySecK said the police need better detection for scams that last longer. Though the number of cases dropped, losses stayed high due to new fraud methods. One rising fraud involves fake credit card offers through calls. Scammers send compromised phones to victims who unknowingly lose control of their devices and bank accounts. An investigator revealed one man operating from Surat caused 47 such cases in Bengaluru by hiring delivery boys. After receiving the phones, victims’ bank accounts were drained without their knowledge. Officials warn such frauds will likely increase next year with more fake offers. The Criminal Investigation Department’s Cybercrime Wing said OTP frauds, especially targeting senior citizens, still happen but quick reporting improves chances of recovery. For example, Bengaluru police recovered ₹1.90 lakh lost by a 70-year-old man who quickly alerted authorities after a credit card scam. The account was frozen and full money was returned within a week. Deputy Commissioner Akshay Hakay Machhindra stressed the value of swift action and communication with banks to stop fraud losses.