Cyber Crime Branch Flags ₹15 Cr Cyber Fraud, AI Abuse in Guwahati

In the face of a sharp escalation in financial cybercrimes across the city, the Guwahati Crime Branch has issued a strong public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant. Addressing a press conference at the Crime Branch headquarters in Panbazar, ADCP Birinchi Bora revealed that fraudsters have siphoned off nearly ₹15 crore from unsuspecting victims in the city so far this year.

Bora expressed grave concern over the rising number of educated individuals falling prey to digital scams. “Even well-informed citizens are losing their hard-earned money to these cybercriminals. This trend is deeply worrying,” he said.

According to the Crime Branch, scammers have adopted increasingly deceptive methods, often impersonating officials from the CBI, Customs Department, banks, or even the police. Victims are contacted through phone calls and coerced into transferring large sums under fabricated threats or pretexts.

Citing recent cases, Bora mentioned that a school teacher was duped of ₹75 lakh, while another individual lost ₹56 lakh to a fraudster claiming to be from the CBI. These are just two among the hundreds of such cases reported in the city this year.

Data from the Panbazar Cyber Police Station shows that 386 complaints related to financial cybercrime have been received in 2025 alone. Of these, 37 have been formally registered as FIRs, with investigations underway. “We’ve managed to recover ₹2.12 crore so far, but a substantial amount remains untraced,” Bora stated.

The crackdown on these digital frauds has led to the arrest of 55 individuals linked to various cybercrime networks. Yet, authorities believe this is only a fraction of the broader problem. “These numbers reflect cases in Guwahati alone. Across Assam, there are likely thousands more,” the ADCP cautioned.

What’s even more alarming, Bora added, is the growing misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in perpetrating cyber fraud. “In the era of AI, technology is increasingly being used for malicious purposes. The potential for harm is growing, and so must our awareness,” he warned.

The police have urged citizens to be extremely cautious while responding to unsolicited phone calls, emails, or text messages, especially those requesting sensitive information or financial details.

“We appeal to the public to verify before trusting, to pause before paying. Awareness is the first defence. Help us stop this menace,” Bora concluded.

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