The Punjab Police’s State Cyber Crime Division has taken action against cyber fraud by freezing 63,749 bank accounts, involving transactions worth nearly Rs 540.34 crore over the past year. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav revealed that around Rs 64 crore has been recovered since 2024, with nearly Rs 38.42 crore refunded to victims from January 1, 2025. The state has seen 62,253 cybercrime cases registered during this period.
The percentage of successfully frozen fraud proceeds has risen from 16.13% to 23.43% in the last financial year, indicating a notable improvement in financial recovery efforts. DGP Yadav highlighted that the crackdown on cyber fraud gangs has not only led to freezing fraudulent accounts and recovering defrauded funds but has also exposed organized cybercrime networks operating nationwide.
Jalandhar Commissionerate topped the list with 16,032 frozen accounts and recoveries of Rs 6,81,00,323, followed by Kapurthala with 7,344 frozen accounts and Rs 2,56,00,037 recovered. Hoshiarpur and Ferozepur also saw significant numbers of frozen accounts and recoveries. Additionally, the State Cyber Crime Division successfully resolved a cyber extortion case involving a Punjabi resident in Canada, leading to the arrest of three individuals and the recovery of Rs 349,100 along with $500.
Special DGP (Cyber Crime) V. Neeraja emphasized the division’s efforts not only in combating cyber fraud but also in educating citizens on avoiding scams. The focus includes raising awareness among youngsters about online risks like grooming, cyber bullying, and extortion, aiming to protect personal information from being compromised. Neeraja stated that the Punjab Police’s comprehensive strategy involves enforcement actions and public awareness campaigns to combat cybercrime effectively.
