Ludhiana Sees 280% Spike in Cyber-Extortion, Ranks 4th Among Metros

Ludhiana is witnessing a sharp surge in digital blackmail, with cyber-extortion cases rising 280% in a year, according to the NCRB’s 2023 report. The city recorded 19 such cases — its highest since 2016 — placing it fourth among 34 metros, after Thiruvananthapuram (552 cases), Agra (43), and Prayagraj (29).

Police commissioner Swapan Sharma said the rise poses a significant challenge for investigators. Many cases remain untraced due to fake identities, low monetary losses, and the widespread use of technology that masks caller locations. “We have a dedicated team working on these cases and encourage victims to report incidents,” he said.

A cybercrime official said most local extortionists use fake SIM cards, while those operating from abroad rely on paid VPNs or, at times, landlines to conceal their origin. WhatsApp is the most common platform used for threats, followed by Instagram. VPN obfuscation makes tracing IP addresses difficult, often stalling investigations.

Of the 76 cybercrime cases reported in Ludhiana last year, fraud led with 32 cases, followed by 15 involving sexual exploitation. Other motives — including revenge, anger, pranks, and political or terror-related intent — accounted for a few isolated incidents.

With criminals using encrypted apps, burner SIMs, and shifting digital identities, police say cyber-extortion has become one of Ludhiana’s most complex and fast-evolving crime fronts.