AP Police Uncover Fake Website Scam, Arrest Two in Rajasthan

Swift Summary

• Police in Bapatla district, Andhra Pradesh, arrested two individuals from Rajasthan for creating fake websites impersonating andhra Pradesh Tourism Progress corporation (APTDC) and major temples.
• The accused allegedly duped people across 18 states of approximately ₹50 lakh through these fraudulent activities.
• Identified as Paramjeet and bittu from Sahasan village in Deeg district, Rajasthan, they were involved in creating fake websites for Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD), Srisailam temple, Trimkeshwar temple, APTDC resorts, and private tourist accommodations to deceive devotees and tourists.
• Following a complaint from the manager of Haritha Resorts in Suryalanka about a fake website causing fraudulent bookings at Haritha beach Resort Suryalanka, police initiated an inquiry.
• A team led by law enforcement officers arrested the culprits in Rajasthan and seized items such as mobile phones and SIM cards related to their operations.
• The men were presented before courts both locally in Rajasthan and later in Bapatla district after being brought on a Prisoner Transit Warrant. They are currently under two-day police custody for questioning as investigations continue.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This incident highlights the growing concern around cyber fraud, particularly crimes exploiting public trust associated with well-known organizations like APTDC and revered religious institutions such as TTD. The scale of this case-spanning 18 states-underscores both the widespread reach of online scams and vulnerabilities within digital frameworks used by legitimate institutions that could be exploited by fraudsters.

While timely action by law enforcement has succeeded here, it also raises questions about preventive strategies that can be employed across sectors involving tourism or religious services where large sums of money change hands online. Strengthening cyber-reporting mechanisms at state levels may help curb such incidents nationwide while protecting unsuspecting citizens from similar scams moving forward.

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