Cybercrime Surges in Vizag as Scammers Target AP | #cybercrime | #infosec

Visakhapatnam: Cybercrime fraud has reached alarming levels across the Visakhapatnam police range, with 117 cases registered, 135 individuals arrested, and 40 charge sheets filed, according to data from the DIG office.

Srikakulam district reported the highest number of cybercrime cases with 35 incidents. Of the 45 accused arrested, 30 were served 41 CrPC notices, and 15 charge sheets have been filed. Anakapalli followed with 28 cases involving 30 accused, 24 of whom received CrPC notices, and 14 charge sheets have been filed. In Manyam district, 24 cases were registered with 28 accused and 21 arrests, but no charge sheets have been filed yet. Vizianagaram recorded 15 cases involving 19 accused, with 13 CrPC notices and eight charge sheets submitted. ASR district also documented 15 cases involving 13 accused, leading to seven arrests and three charge sheets.

Sources revealed that residents across Andhra Pradesh are losing an estimated ₹15–20 crore every month to cyber frauds orchestrated from Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. These operations have been linked to three major fraud categories: stock trading and investment scams, digital arrest schemes, and task-based cons.

In a recent incident, a 40-year-old private employee from Visakhapatnam lost over ₹50 lakh in a stock trading scam. Initially lured by a mobile link offering 150–200% returns, the victim was added to Telegram and WhatsApp groups where scammers displayed fake charts and profit statements. After permitting small withdrawals to build trust, the fraudsters vanished once the victim transferred his entire savings of ₹50 lakh.

Cybercrime officials estimate that locals, including tech professionals and prominent citizens, are losing at least ₹15 crore monthly to such schemes.

“Victims often fall prey due to a lack of verification, over-reliance on social media, and greed for quick returns,” said K. Bhavani Prasad, Inspector at the Cybercrime Police Station.

Police recently rescued 85 Indian youths and arrested 20 suspects in connection with cybercrime recruitment. These victims were trafficked to cybercrime hubs in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, where they were coerced into international fraud operations, highlighting the growing global nexus of cybercrime syndicates.