By News18,Santhosh Kumar Kota

Copyright news18

Cybercrime is on the rise in Andhra Pradesh, with criminals targeting not just ordinary citizens, but now high-profile individuals and institutions. In a shocking incident, the finance manager of Kakinada MP and Tea Time company head Udaya Srinivas was duped into transferring Rs 92 lakh to cybercriminals posing as the MP himself.
The incident came to light when Gangisetty Srinivas Rao, the chief finance manager of Tea Time, received a WhatsApp message on August 22 from an unknown number. The number featured the profile photo of MP Udaya Srinivas, leading the manager to believe it was his boss using a new number.
The impersonator claimed to need urgent financial assistance and, over a series of messages, convinced the manager to transfer money. Believing the request to be genuine, Srinivas Rao transferred a total of Rs 92 lakh in 11 separate transactions to various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters—without verifying the request directly.
On September 8, while reviewing company accounts, MP Udaya Srinivas noticed several suspicious transactions. Upon questioning the finance manager, the shocking truth emerged. The manager insisted he had made the transfers at the MP’s request, only to realise he had been misled by someone using a fake number and a familiar photo.
The MP and his team immediately filed a complaint with the cybercrime police. However, since the transactions occurred over two weeks earlier, the fraudsters had already withdrawn most of the funds. Authorities were able to freeze ₹7 lakh temporarily, but the rest had already been siphoned off.
Police officials confirmed that the criminals used social engineering tactics to gain the victim’s trust. They often pose as trusted individuals—such as bosses, police officers, or even family members—via phone or WhatsApp to exploit victims emotionally and financially.
The police reiterated their ongoing efforts to raise public awareness about such scams and urged citizens to always verify requests for money, especially when they come through unfamiliar numbers or online messaging platforms.
This incident has created a stir not just in Kakinada but across the Telugu states, as it highlights how even top businesspeople and public representatives are not immune to cyber fraud. Despite repeated warnings and awareness campaigns, cybercriminals continue to exploit trust and technology in increasingly creative ways.
With Rs 1 crore nearly stolen from the MP’s team, this case serves as a stark reminder that cyber vigilance is no longer optional; it is essential.