Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) Chairperson Veturkuri A.V.S. Suryanarayana Raju has urged parents and families to remain vigilant against the increasing threat of human trafficking, warning that organised criminal networks are increasingly targeting children and young people through social media platforms, fraudulent job offers and online scams.Speaking at an awareness programme organised jointly by the APSCPCR and the HELP organisation in Vijayawada on Thursday on the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Mr. Raju said human trafficking had evolved into a sophisticated, technology-driven crime extending far beyond traditional cross-border activities.He said traffickers were exploiting mobile phones, social media accounts and fake employment advertisements to lure unsuspecting victims. Criminal networks, he added, were taking advantage of the ambitions of children and the youth through deceptive methods, including online friendships, romantic traps, promises of lucrative jobs and fraudulent overseas employment opportunities.During the programme, Mr. Raju, commission members and HELP secretary Nimmaraju Ramamohan unveiled awareness posters highlighting the dangers of human trafficking and measures to prevent it. Mr. Raju stressed the importance of improving digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness among vulnerable sections of society.Referring to a recent case in which several youths from Andhra Pradesh were allegedly lured with promises of jobs in Singapore but were taken to Myanmar and forced to work in cybercrime centres, Mr. Ramamohan urged job seekers to verify employment offers carefully. Published - July 30, 2026 07:21 pm IST