Agartala, August 30 — Director General of Tripura Police (DGP) Anurag on Saturday revealed that cybercrime fraudsters have duped citizens of the state to the tune of Rs 51.49 crore since 2021, largely due to lack of awareness about online frauds. He, however, noted that Tripura Police, through prompt investigation and coordinated action, has so far managed to retrieve Rs 33.84 lakh.
The DGP was addressing a workshop on cybercrime for journalists when he highlighted the growing challenges posed by online frauds. “People should remain cautious while clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information online. Fraudsters are adopting increasingly sophisticated methods to trap people and empty their bank accounts,” he cautioned.
He explained that criminals often resort to scams involving fake electricity and gas bills, forged RTO challans, investment frauds in trading groups, impersonation of police or income tax officials for digital arrests, OTP thefts, sexual exploitation via social media, fake franchise offers, lottery scams, courier and hotel booking frauds, OLX cons, and hacking of social media accounts.
One of the biggest hurdles, he said, is that most cybercriminals operate from outside Tripura or even overseas, making tracking and prosecution difficult. “Fraudsters use fake bank accounts, SIM cards, VPNs, artificial intelligence, and deepfake technology to target unsuspecting people. Often, victims delay reporting crimes, which allows criminals to escape,” Anurag added.
Police data revealed that 269 individuals have been identified as victims of cyber fraud. Collectively, they lost Rs 51.49 crore, out of which Rs 33.84 lakh has been recovered so far. Investigators have also frozen 20,387 bank accounts with deposits worth Rs 5.76 crore, which officials expect to retrieve in the coming months.
To illustrate the scale of the menace, the DGP cited cases such as one victim losing Rs 2.3 crore in an investment scam, another losing Rs 18 lakh to a fake franchise, and a young man who was blackmailed via video call into paying money to scamsters.
The figures show a steep rise in cyber fraud over the years: Rs 1.98 crore in 2021, Rs 4.62 crore in 2022, Rs 9 crore in 2023, and Rs 25.54 crore in 2024. Till July 2025, frauds amounting to Rs 9.77 crore have been recorded.
Urging citizens to practice cyber hygiene, Anurag advised installing security apps, using strong passwords, and reporting fraud promptly. “In case of financial loss, victims must immediately dial 1930 and approach their local police station or the Agartala Cyber Crime Police Station,” he stressed.
