Mangaluru: There is a drastic rise in cybercrime cases in Mangaluru City police limits. In 2023, Mangaluru city police recorded 240 cybercrime cases, marking a significant increase from 107 cases in 2021 and 68 cases in 2022.City police commissioner Anupam Agrawal told TOI the majority of cybercrimes reported include job fraud, scams involving the Telegram app and loan app, forgery, security fraud and other related offences. There has been a surge in fraud cases related to share trading, often perpetrated through deceptive links promising high returns. Initially, fraudsters offer small returns to entice victims, who subsequently invest large sums of money. However, the victims will realise they have been deceived when they attempt to withdraw the promised high returns.Such crimes are also increasing in Dakshina Kannada district police limits. In 2021, the Dakshina Kannada police registered 26 cybercrime cases and 16 in 2022. The number of cybercrime cases increased to 36 in 2023. Dakshina Kannada SP Ryshyanth CB said there is a possibility of cases going unreported, especially when victims lose a small amount of cash. The SP said often victims fall prey to the advertisements on doubling money and they will click on links and start investing. Victims have lost lakhs of rupees in such cases. There is also an increasing incidence of phishing scams, where fraudsters create fake ‘payment gateway’ pages that closely resemble legitimate ones. Victims are tricked into sharing sensitive information on these unsecured pages, allowing fraudsters to transfer money from their accounts. Victims are also deceived through online market platforms, such as those offering products like iPhones at discounted rates, as well as luring victims with promises of substantial prize money, the SP said, adding that awareness in this regard is being conducted.