The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data released under the title “The Crime in India 2024 report” shows that cybercrime in Punjab witnessed a staggering 43 per cent rise in 2024 as compared to the previous year.While 888 cases of cyber fraud were reported in 2024, this marked an increase of 377 cases during the year.As many as 511 cases were reported in 2023, while 2022 saw registration of 697 cybercrime cases.Out of the 888 cases, 605 were related to fraud, 24 to extortion and 41 were registered for causing disrepute.However, the amount of financial loss caused due to cybercrime was not shared in the NCRB report.As many as 76 cases of sexual exploitation, four each involving political motives and inciting hate against communities, were also registered.There are 1,428 cases pending from previous years which are under investigation.A total of 182 cybercrime cases were registered in which women were the targets. Of these, eight involved cyber blackmailing and threatening, 25 related to publishing obscene sexual material, nine involved cyberbullying of women, and 137 fell under other cybercrimes targeting women, according to the NCRB 2024 report.A total of 24 cases of cybercrime against children were registered, of which nine involved obscene sexual material depicting children.As many as 561 men and 81 women involved in cyber fraud were arrested by police in 2024.The report indicates that online banking and UPI fraud caused the highest financial damage, followed by investment and Ponzi-related scams and e-commerce frauds.Job scams, fake loan applications, identity theft, cyber extortion and online sexual exploitation were also reported among the major offences investigated by law enforcement agencies.Officials, requesting anonymity, said the rapid expansion of smartphones, digital banking services, and online financial transactions has widened the pool of potential victims.Police investigators also pointed to the involvement of organised interstate and cross-border cyber fraud networks in several cases.