Hyderabad – The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has launched a large-scale awareness drive to help people stay safe from growing cyber threats. As part of the Cyber Jagrukta Diwas, officials held over 325 awareness sessions across the state. These sessions took place in colleges, hospitals, private offices, public spaces, and bus stations.
During the campaign, authorities highlighted several common cyber scams targeting the public. One major warning involved fake Instagram pages that sell sarees and clothing using stolen images. These pages often offer big discounts to lure buyers. Payments are taken through UPI or e-wallets, but customers either receive poor-quality products or nothing at all. Most of these sellers don’t offer refunds and lack any verified business details.
Another scam involves so-called online jobs that appear easy and harmless. Victims are asked to perform simple tasks like liking videos. At first, scammers pay small rewards to build trust. Later, they convince victims to invest more money with promises of higher returns. Once the money is sent, the fraudsters disappear.
Officials also warned about fake websites pretending to be official portals for booking vehicle number plates or FASTags. These fake sites collect personal and vehicle details, charge fake fees, and often send out bogus documents to make the scam look real. In many cases, the promised services are never delivered.
The TGCSB also raised concerns about illegal online betting apps, which are banned in Telangana under the Telangana Gaming Act, 2017. Many of these apps are run from other countries and target users with tempting offers. They can lead to serious financial problems. Authorities have begun cracking down on social media influencers and platforms that promote or advertise these illegal apps.
If you’ve been scammed or have any related information, the TGCSB urges you to report it via WhatsApp at 8712672222. Staying alert and informed is the first step in fighting cybercrime.
