Cybercrimes overtake burglaries, robberies in Vizag this year

Overall cybercrimes complaints have decreased by 4.6 percent in 2020. Yet most of the cybercrimes were committed during the Covid-19 lockdown period when Vizag witnessed the biggest financial fraud.

A retired defence officer was duped of Rs 1.63 crore by cyber Facebook friends under the guise of sending elegant and most expensive gifts in 2020. It was the biggest financial fraud in Andhra Pradesh.

Vizag city police chief Manish Kumar Sinha advised people to remain vigilant against cyber frauds.

Police said cyber-criminals have plundered property worth Rs 7.2 crore. Burglars, thieves, dacoits have stolen Rs 6.2crore in 2019.

With the internet and social media becoming a way of life, Vizag city has been reporting more cybercrimes in Andhra Pradesh.

After Vizag city, West Godavari, and Kurnool districts reported cybercrimes in 2020. A total of 352 cybercrimes were registered with the cybercrime police station in Vizag. Last year, the registered cybercrimes complaints stood at 369.

Vizag police said a total of 671 property offenses were reported and Rs 4.78 crore properties were stolen in the city this year. Last year 850 cases were reported and the property lost was Rs 6.14 crore.

Except for robberies, all other incidents including burglaries, snatchings, and other property offense have decreased this year primarily due to Covid-19 lockdown.

Police said cyber crooks have been coming with innovative ideas to dupe the people through online lottery frauds, matrimonial frauds, and others.

Inspector of Cybercrime Police Station (CPS), Vizag, RVRK Choudhary said lack of proper knowledge among the people about using e-commerce platforms and revealing One Time Password were the reasons for increasing financial frauds.

Online cheating through e-commerce platforms, fake websites, lottery frauds, gift frauds (Nigerian Frauds), and job frauds dominated the cybercrimes this year.

A total of 92 complaints were related to e-commerce and fake website frauds. Likewise, 67 complaints were related to Vishing and Phishing frauds, 29 complaints to Nigerian Frauds and 104 complaints were related to other financial frauds including job frauds, hacking, and others.

The detection rate in cyber crimes is as low as 8 percent and the recovery rate of stolen amount stood at 4 percent in Andhra Pradesh.