Bengaluru, Aug. 12 -- A new wave of cybercrime is sweeping across Karnataka, with police reporting a sudden surge in cases involving a sophisticated phone scam that combines fake courier calls, mobile phone takeovers, and fraudulent payment requests. Over the past 24 hours alone, hundreds of victims have come forward, most from Bengaluru, with many left financially devastated after unintentionally handing over control of their phones - and access to their personal networks - to scammers.

According to police, the scam typically begins with a phone call from someone claiming to represent a well-known courier company. The caller informs the target that a sensitive document - such as a bank statement or insurance paper - has been returned du...