Visakhapatnam Hit by ₹12 Crore Cyber Frauds in January; Digital Arrest and Fake Investment Scams on the Rise
Cybercrime Costs Visakhapatnam ₹12 Crore in January, Driven by Digital Arrest and Investment Scams
Visakhapatnam has become a hotspot for cybercrime, with residents losing over ₹12 crore to online scams in January 2026 alone. According to the city’s cybercrime police station, more than 100 complaints were filed during the month, resulting in the registration of 22 First Information Reports (FIRs).
Digital Arrest Scams and Fake Investment Schemes
The majority of reported losses were attributed to digital arrest scams and fake online investment schemes. Five FIRs related to digital arrest frauds were filed, with victims collectively losing around ₹3.4 crore. Another six FIRs pertained to bogus investment schemes, resulting in losses of nearly ₹6.2 crore.
Digital arrest scams typically involve fraudsters using video calls to threaten victims with immediate arrest, often posing as officials from the Supreme Court or other law enforcement agencies. Elderly citizens are particularly vulnerable to these tactics, due to limited digital literacy, trusting nature, and financial stability.
Fake investment scams, on the other hand, rely heavily on social media and messaging platforms to lure victims with promises of unusually high returns. These scams often direct victims to fraudulent trading applications or portals.
Importance of Timely Reporting
Police officials emphasized the importance of timely reporting in cybercrime cases. If victims report the incident within the first hour, the chances of freezing the money trail and recovering stolen funds increase significantly. The national cybercrime helpline, 1930, is available for victims to seek assistance and initiate fund-blocking procedures.
Data analysis revealed that nearly 60% of cybercrime victims in Visakhapatnam are young professionals and private-sector employees, with average daily losses reported at ₹30–40 lakh. Investigators believe that over 70% of organized cybercrime operations targeting Indian victims are based in Southeast Asian countries, particularly Cambodia.
Prevention and Awareness
To combat cybercrime, the cyber cell has urged citizens to verify any suspicious calls, links, investment proposals, or arrest threats before taking action. Authorities have also cautioned against sharing One-Time Passwords (OTPs), bank credentials, or personal details with unknown callers.
Delays in reporting cybercrime remain a significant challenge, with officials emphasizing that the sooner a complaint is lodged, the higher the likelihood of recovering stolen funds. As digital transactions continue to rise, cybercrime has emerged as a serious urban challenge. Law enforcement agencies plan to intensify awareness drives and take stricter action against mule account networks used by organized gangs to launder stolen money.
Recent Case
In one recent case, a 76-year-old resident lost nearly ₹90 lakh after being cheated by cybercriminals posing as Supreme Court officials. The incident highlights the need for citizens to be vigilant and cautious when interacting with unknown individuals online.
The Visakhapatnam police department is hopeful that coordinated enforcement and public vigilance will help curb the growing menace of cyber-enabled financial crimes.
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