Cuttack, Dec. 17: The state CID, crime branch, apprehend an increase in the number of debit and credit card fraud cases by almost 35 to 40 per cent by next year because of the increase in digital and cashless transactions.

Though not a single fraud case using e-wallets or other modes of payments through mobile phones or computers has been reported in the state since demonetisation, the ch-ances of people falling victim to online fraud cannot be ruled out with the increase in online payment transactions.

Official sources said cases of cyber crimes were increasing in the state. More than 400 cases were registered in 2015, but the figure was only within 20 to 30 till 2013. This year, the number of such cases may go above 450.

Special director-general of police, crime branch, B.K. Sharma said banks and other financial institutions had started apprising people on the safe use of e-wallets and other digital payment modes in various parts of the city as well as rural areas.

The crime branch organised a state-level training programme here today to train officers in police stations to handle cyber and financial fraud cases through various e-transactions modes.

More than 72 officers attended the workshop-training programme where experts from various financial institutions along with IT professions trained the cops to conduct investigation into such cases<>. The lab will be functional by March next year," Sharma said.