Eluru District Superintendent of Police (SP) K. Pratap Shiva Kishore on Thursday warned the public about a sharp rise in cybercrimes. He said cybercriminals are spreading fake APK files named “Parivahan RTO Chalan” on WhatsApp. Installing these files lets fraudsters control phones, read SMS, steal bank OTPs, and steal money from victims’ accounts. The SP advised people to pay traffic challans only on official government sites or trusted apps. He also cautioned students and youth against instant loan apps. Fraudsters collect personal data and contact lists, charge high interest rates, and then harass and blackmail victims, sometimes using morphed photos. He said these scams cause severe distress. Mr. Kishore highlighted cryptocurrency scams where fraudsters promise huge returns with fake digital currencies. They misuse personal documents like Aadhaar and email IDs to open accounts for illegal deals, risking innocent users getting into legal trouble. He also talked about online investment frauds. Initially, victims get small returns to build trust. Later, scammers show inflated profits and demand more money for GST or processing fees when withdrawals are attempted. The SP urged victims to contact the cybercrime helpline at 1930 or lodge complaints on the national cybercrime portal immediately. He stressed not sharing personal or banking details or OTPs with unknown people and reporting suspicious links to the police.