Malkangiri: The simplicity and trust of Malkangiri’s residents have made them easy targets for cybercriminals, with many falling victim to sophisticated scams. Despite a rising number of cybercrimes in the district, these incidents often go unnoticed until victims suffer significant financial losses and seek police intervention.
In a recent case, Ashok Kumar Tripathi, a local teacher from Durgagudisahi, lost ₹6.5 lakh to fraudsters posing as Mumbai Police officers. The scam began on October 24, 2024, when three unidentified individuals contacted Tripathi, claiming his phone number was linked to 17 criminal cases and his Aadhaar card was involved in a fraud investigation. They threatened immediate arrest unless he paid a sum of money to clear his name.
On October 28, 2024, Tripathi transferred ₹2 lakh to an ICICI Bank account registered under “Orbit Export and Import” and ₹4.5 lakh to a Bandhan Bank account in the name of Mukesh Kumar. After the transactions, the scammers ceased contact. Realizing he had been deceived, Tripathi filed a complaint with the Malkangiri police on March 8, 2025.
Acting on the complaint, Inspector-in-Charge Rigaan Kindoo formed a special team that tracked down and arrested three suspects in Rajasthan. The accused, identified as Mukesh Kumar (22), Surendra Kumar (20), and Naresh Kumar (21) from Bahukirani village in Jaisalmer district, were apprehended. Police seized fake police IDs, forged FIRs, fabricated account statements, fake Supreme Court notices, and counterfeit ED notices from the suspects. The trio was produced in court today.
This incident follows another high-profile case in the district, where a teacher lost ₹87.63 lakh to cybercriminals, highlighting the growing threat of cyber fraud in Malkangiri. Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious calls or messages immediately.
