Eluru District Superintendent of Police (SP) K. Pratap Shiva Kishore on Thursday warned the public against the surge in cyber crime and urged citizens to remain vigilant against various online scams targeting unsuspecting victims.
Addressing the issue, the SP said that cybercriminals have been circulating fake APK files with the name “Parivahan RTO Chalan” through WhatsApp. He explained that installing such files will allow fraudsters to gain control over mobile phones, access SMS messages, steal bank OTPs and siphon money from victims’ accounts. He advised people to pay traffic boys only through official government websites or trusted apps.
The SP also warned students and youth against so-called instant loan applications. He said scammers lure victims by collecting personal information and contact lists, charge exorbitant interest rates and later resort to harassment and extortion, including photo morphing. He noted that such incidents led to severe suffering among the victims.
Highlighting scams related to cryptocurrencies, the SP said that cybercriminals promise high returns using fake or non-existent digital currencies. He added that personal documents like Aadhaar and email ID were often misused to open accounts for illegal transactions, which could land innocent users in legal trouble.
Mr. Pratap Shiva Kishore further referred to online investment scams where victims are initially paid small returns to gain confidence. Later, fraudsters report inflated profits and demand additional payments in the name of GST or processing charges when they attempt to withdraw.
The SP has advised victims of cyber fraud to immediately contact the cybercrime helpline 1930 or file complaints through the national cybercrime portal. It also warned citizens against sharing personal, banking or OTP details with unknown persons and urged them to report suspicious links to the police.
Published – 25 Dec 2025 20:02 IST
