Hyderabad: The Cyber Crime unit in Hyderabad made a significant arrest, capturing 25 cyber criminals involved in 453 fraud cases nationwide, including 66 in Telangana. In June, officials returned Rs 72.85 lakh to victims affected by these scams.
These fraudsters operated in several regions: Andhra Pradesh (17 cases), Bihar (13), Chhattisgarh (2), Daman & Diu (3), Delhi (19), Gujarat (35), Haryana (6), Jharkhand (2), Karnataka (74), Kerala (28), Madhya Pradesh (7), Maharashtra (53), Odisha (3), Puducherry (1), Punjab (12), Rajasthan (16), Tamil Nadu (34), Uttar Pradesh (36), West Bengal (16), Jammu & Kashmir (6), and Telangana (66).
Authorities seized 34 mobile phones, 20 cheque books, 17 debit cards, 8 SIM cards, 16 bank passbooks, and Rs 1 lakh in cash.
The scams included a Rs 2.59 crore fraud using a fake trading app called Abbott Wealth Management and a scam impersonating the YES BANK trading platform. Other fraudulent activities involved fake Indian oil dealership offers.
The Cyber Crime team also handled 22 cases of CSAEM (Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitive Material) sent from I4C via the NECMEC (National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children). These cases were forwarded to the relevant police stations, leading to arrests.
Police warn the public to stay cautious against social media messages or friend requests claiming to be from high-ranking officials asking for money. Be wary of threatening video calls pretending to be from agencies like CBI, RBI, ED, or others demanding cash. Genuine government bodies do not conduct such calls or digital arrests.
Fraudulent investment groups on platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook promise high returns with little risk. Always use SEBI-approved apps and consult a registered financial advisor before investing.
Quick reporting can help recover some of the lost money. Victims of cyber fraud should report immediately by calling the helpline number 1930 or visiting cybercrime.gov.in.
