Sri Vijaya Puram, July 21: A series of recent cyber crime FIRs registered in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has revealed an increasingly sophisticated pattern of online financial fraud, with cyber criminals deploying a wide range of tactics, from fake stock investment platforms and impersonation of senior government officials to WhatsApp scams and digital payment fraud, to deceive unsuspecting victims.
While the methods vary, investigators say the underlying strategy remains remarkably consistent: establish trust, create a sense of urgency or promise high financial returns, and ultimately persuade victims to transfer money or divulge sensitive banking information.
The recent cases suggest that cyber fraud in the islands is no longer confined to isolated incidents of phishing or fraudulent phone calls. Instead, fraudsters are increasingly using social media, messaging platforms and digital payment ecosystems to execute well-planned financial scams that mirror those seen across major Indian cities.
One of the most significant recent cases involved a resident who allegedly lost Rs. 10.85 lakh after being lured into a fake online investment scheme masquerading as a “block trading” platform.
According to the FIR, the victim came across a Facebook advertisement promoting lucrative investment opportunities in January 2026, which redirected him to a WhatsApp group operated by individuals posing as investment advisors. After obtaining his Aadhaar details and banking information, the fraudsters encouraged him to invest in purported stock market trades.
To make the scheme appear legitimate, the victim was shown an online dashboard displaying fabricated profits, encouraging him to invest progressively larger amounts through multiple transactions over nearly three months. However, when he attempted to withdraw his money, the requests repeatedly failed. The fraudsters allegedly demanded an additional Rs. 22 lakh, claiming it was required to participate in a forthcoming IPO before any withdrawal could be processed. Realising that he had been deceived, the victim lodged a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Investigators believe the case reflects a growing trend of fraudsters exploiting the increasing interest in online investing by creating convincing but entirely fictitious trading platforms designed solely to siphon money from investors.
In another recent case, fraudsters exploited the credibility associated with government officials.
According to the FIR, a victim received a phone call on July 3 from an individual claiming to be “Manoj Tiwari, DANICS.” The caller falsely alleged that Rs. 85,000 had been mistakenly transferred to the victim’s bank account and reinforced the claim by sending a fabricated payment screenshot. Trusting the caller, the victim transferred Rs. 50,000 through UPI to two mobile-linked payment accounts before discovering that no money had ever been credited to his account.
The case highlights an emerging form of social engineering in which fraudsters rely less on technology and more on exploiting public trust in government officials and institutions.
The FIRs also coincide with a recent public advisory issued by the Andaman and Nicobar Police following an increase in WhatsApp impersonation scams.
Police said cyber criminals have been creating fake WhatsApp accounts using the photographs and identities of senior government officials, elected representatives and other prominent personalities. After initiating seemingly routine conversations, the fraudsters gradually build credibility before requesting money transfers or asking victims to purchase gift cards and other items on their behalf.
Investigators say these incidents are part of a broader evolution in cyber crime, where criminals constantly modify their methods to stay ahead of public awareness campaigns.
Besides fake investment platforms and impersonation scams, recent investigations have revealed the use of phishing links, fraudulent online job offers, fake customer care numbers, QR code payment scams, remote-access applications and counterfeit social media profiles. Although each fraud follows a different script, police say the objective remains identical, to manipulate victims into voluntarily transferring money or disclosing confidential financial credentials.
The latest cases indicate that cyber criminals are increasingly relying on social engineering, the psychological manipulation of victims, rather than sophisticated hacking techniques. By exploiting trust, authority and the fear of missing out on lucrative investment opportunities, fraudsters are able to convince victims to bypass basic financial safeguards.
Police have reiterated that banks, government departments and law enforcement agencies never seek OTPs, ATM PINs, CVV numbers, UPI PINs or internet banking passwords over telephone calls or messaging applications. Citizens have also been advised to independently verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent a government office, avoid transferring money in response to unsolicited requests, refrain from scanning unknown QR codes or installing remote-access applications at the request of strangers, and thoroughly verify the authenticity of investment platforms before committing funds.
Authorities have urged the public to immediately report suspicious online financial transactions through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or the Cyber Helpline 1930.
The recent FIRs underscore that cyber fraud in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is becoming increasingly organised and diverse, with criminals continuously adapting their techniques to exploit public trust. As more financial transactions move online and digital payments become ubiquitous, investigators say public awareness and timely reporting remain the strongest defence against an evolving cyber threat landscape.
