Cybercriminals siphoned off more than ₹12 crore from residents of Visakhapatnam in January 2026 alone, highlighting the growing scale of digital financial fraud in the coastal city.
According to data from the city’s cyber crime police station, over 100 complaints were received during the month, leading to the registration of 22 FIRs. Officials clarified that in several cases, five to ten complaints of a similar nature are clubbed into a single FIR, accounting for the gap between complaint numbers and registered cases.
Digital arrest scams and fake online investment schemes accounted for the bulk of reported losses.
Five FIRs filed in January were linked to digital arrest frauds, in which victims collectively lost around ₹3.4 crore. Another six FIRs pertained to bogus investment schemes, resulting in losses of nearly ₹6.2 crore.
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Additionally, four FIRs were registered in APK-based fraud cases involving losses of about ₹1 crore. The remaining complaints were related to job scams, fake credit card offers and online shopping fraud.
Despite sustained awareness campaigns, police said a large number of citizens continue to fall prey to digital arrest tactics and banking frauds. In one recent case, a 76-year-old resident was allegedly cheated of nearly ₹90 lakh after cybercriminals posed as Supreme Court-linked officials and intimidated him over a video call, claiming that a legal petition had been filed against him.
Senior officials said fraudsters typically use video calls to threaten victims with immediate arrest in digital arrest cases. Elderly citizens, in particular, are found to be more vulnerable due to factors such as limited digital literacy, trusting nature, loneliness as family members live elsewhere, financial stability, and lack of immediate support.
Fake investment scams, meanwhile, rely heavily on social media and messaging platforms, where victims are lured with promises of unusually high returns and directed to fraudulent trading applications or portals.
Police stressed that timing is critical in such cases. If victims report cyber fraud within the first hour, the chances of freezing the money trail increase significantly, improving prospects of recovery through legal channels.
Officials reiterated that victims can immediately seek assistance by calling the national cybercrime helpline 1930 to initiate fund-blocking procedures.
Data also shows that nearly 60% of cyber fraud victims in the city are young professionals and private-sector employees. On average, losses of ₹30–40 lakh are being reported daily in Visakhapatnam. Investigators claim that over 70% of organised cyber fraud operations targeting Indian victims are being run from Southeast Asian countries, particularly regions such as Cambodia.
Police further revealed that in many cases, fraudsters psychologically manipulate victims by posing as enforcement officials and claiming they are under “surveillance”, preventing them from questioning instructions and forcing rapid fund transfers.
The cyber cell has urged citizens to verify any suspicious call, link, investment proposal or arrest threat before acting on it. Authorities also cautioned against sharing OTPs, bank credentials or personal details with unknown callers.
Officials underlined that delay remains the biggest enemy in cybercrime response. The sooner a complaint is lodged, the higher the likelihood of recovering stolen funds.
With digital transactions rising steadily, cybercrime has emerged as a serious urban challenge. Police said the coming months will see intensified awareness drives alongside stricter action against mule account networks, which are routinely used by organised gangs to launder stolen money.
Law enforcement agencies are hopeful that coordinated enforcement and public vigilance will help curb the growing menace of cyber-enabled financial crimes.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
