Cyber crimes up 8% in AP, fraud tops list

Visakhapatnam: Cybercrime cases in Andhra Pradesh rose by around 8% from 2,341 in 2023 to 2,528 in 2024, with fraud emerging as the dominant motive, according to the NCRB-2024 report.Fraud accounted for over 50% of all cases, underscoring growing concerns over digital security and the need for heightened vigilance.Despite awareness campaigns, investment-related cyber frauds and ‘digital arrest’ scams continue to prevail in parts of the state. Officials said a worrying trend is that many victims are educated individuals.In 2024, the state registered 2,528 cybercrime cases under the IT Act, IPC, BNS, and State and Local Laws. Of these, 1,274 cases — more than 50% — were linked to fraud, followed by political motives (272), personal revenge (141), extortion (81), and sexual exploitation (63).The police said fraud has led to unsuspecting victims losing crores of rupees. They added that cybercrime remains an evolving threat, with digital arrest and investment scams prompting authorities to intensify awareness drives.According to the NCRB, Andhra Pradesh recorded 7,210 cybercrime cases between 2022 and 2024. Police said losses in 2024 alone amounted to nearly ₹970 crore, though the actual figure could be higher due to underreporting.Officials said the lure of high returns in a short time is driving investment-related frauds, with gullible investors falling prey to promises of quick profits. Nearly 70% of such frauds originate from Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, said cybercrime police inspector K. Bhavani Prasad.Authorities noted that recovery of stolen money remains very low, as many scams operate from high-security locations reportedly run by Chinese operators, where trafficked individuals, including youth from Andhra Pradesh, are forced to work.KEY POINTSAP Loses ₹970 Cr to Cyber Fraud in 2024On average, over 200 to 300 cybercrimes are reported in a month in APPeople lost Rs 34.04 cr to cybercrimes in 2021, Rs 1,17.5 crore in 2022, Rs 378.6 crore in 2023 and Rs 974.12 crore in 2024Cybercrooks plundered over Rs115 crore from Vizagites in 2024.Andhraites are losing at least Rs50 to Rs60 crore monthly owing to various forms of cyber frauds.Lack of proper coordination between investigating agencies and banks hamper investigation in some cases.Police set up dedicated helpline number 1930 for cybercrime complaintsDon’t believe on unrealistic high returns (double your money in a month)Ask for a valid RBI and SEBI license before investingNever share OTPs and passwords with anyoneCall 1930 immediately: Victims to complain as soon as possible