HYDERABAD: Hyderabad cybercrime police registered 83 first information reports (FIRs) in September 2026 after responding to complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). During interstate operations, police conducted raids across nine states, arrested 35 people in connection with 23 cybercrime cases and helped return ₹88,48,134 to victims from funds frozen in cybercriminals’ accounts.
The arrests covered a range of offences, including social media-related crimes, investment fraud, digital arrest scams, trading fraud, advertisement fraud, identity theft, extortion, job fraud and customer care fraud.
Social media offences account for nine arrests
Of the 35 people arrested, nine were linked to social media-related offences, seven to investment fraud, six to digital arrest scams and five to trading fraud. Three were arrested in advertisement fraud cases, two in identity theft cases, and one each in extortion, job fraud and customer care fraud cases.
State-wise, police arrested 10 people from Telangana, nine from Andhra Pradesh, six from Maharashtra, three each from Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, and one each from Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab.
Police seized 10 mobile phones, seven cheque books and a seal stamp belonging to a shell company from the accused.
Police recover money across 38 cybercrime cases
An analysis of losses and refunds across different fraud methods showed that victims lost ₹7,68,42,420 in 17 investment fraud cases, of which ₹9,20,201 was refunded.
In 11 trading fraud cases, victims lost ₹8,43,49,836, and police facilitated refunds of ₹40,24,762. In five one-time password (OTP) fraud cases, losses stood at ₹23,71,465, while refunds totalled ₹24,68,321.
In two Android Package Kit (APK) file fraud cases, victims lost ₹8,18,716, and ₹5,50,832 was refunded. In one advertisement fraud case, the loss was ₹1,29,000, of which ₹50,016 was returned.
In one digital arrest case, a victim lost ₹85,00,047, and ₹6,91,076 was refunded. In one case involving unauthorised Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, the loss was ₹4,84,674, while ₹1,42,926 was refunded.
Across these 38 cases, victims lost a total of ₹17,34,96,158. Police facilitated refunds amounting to ₹88,48,134.
Zonal cyber cells register 381 FIRs
According to data from the zonal cyber cells (ZCC), the units received 2,767 NCRP petitions and registered 381 FIRs. They arrested 11 people in 10 cases and facilitated refunds of ₹67,54,049 to victims.
Cyber patrolling targets fraudulent online profiles
Through digital monitoring, cyber patrolling units identified 140 social media profiles and 30 paid advertisements on Facebook and Instagram that allegedly used obscene content and abusive language involving minors to generate views, likes, subscribers and monetisation revenue.
The units also acted against profiles involved in fraud using old coins, ₹5 tractor notes, ₹786-series currency notes, misleading betting predictions and promises of guaranteed wins.
Suspicious accounts allegedly used to collect advance payments or personal and financial information through matrimonial services, private video-call services and fake job advertisements were also identified. As a preventive measure, police reported 140 accounts to the relevant social media platforms, leading to their takedown.
As part of continuing cyber patrol operations, police took action against 1,457 profiles and 2,603 paid advertisements promoting online gaming, illegal betting and fake investment websites. They registered nine FIRs against those promoting the content.
C-MITRA offers support to cybercrime victims
The C-MITRA unit made 1,928 phone calls to guide and support cybercrime victims. Based on complaints, police registered 307 zero FIRs to facilitate immediate legal action.
Police are also using the Money Restoration Module (MRM) portal, operated under the Union home ministry and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), to help victims connect directly with banks and police and recover their money quickly.
The Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) portal under the home ministry is being used to investigate bank accounts frozen during cybercrime investigations and expedite the unblocking of accounts where the freeze is found to be unwarranted, the release said.
Pune man arrested in digital arrest fraud case
In one of the key cases solved during the month, Hyderabad cybercrime police registered a case based on a complaint by Polukonda Keerthi Harish, a resident of Madhuranagar in Hyderabad.
The complainant’s mother, who worked abroad, died of a heart attack on September 8, 2025. When her phone was examined afterwards, it was found that unidentified persons had allegedly threatened her in the name of a digital arrest, shown her forged documents and cheated her of ₹6,60,543.
Police registered Crime No. 1669/2025 under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act and Sections 111(2)(b), 105, 308(2), 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338 and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police arrested Shubham Mohan Londe, 27, from Pune and seized a mobile phone from him.
Six FIRs registered over Ganesh immersion-day incidents
Police registered six FIRs over incidents involving nuisance and reckless acts shared on social media on the day of Ganesh immersion.
According to the release, police acted swiftly, identified the accused and took them into custody. Charge sheets will be filed in accordance with the law.
Police urged people not to disrupt public order during celebrations and not to record and share or forward videos of illegal or dangerous acts on social media.
Police issue cyber fraud prevention advisories
Hyderabad cybercrime police issued a series of public advisories to prevent online fraud.
Fake profiles in the names of senior government officials: People should not trust messages seeking money or assistance in the names of government officials. They should verify such requests through official channels before taking action.
Fake investment groups: People should be wary of groups on Telegram, WhatsApp, X, Instagram and Facebook promising high returns. Investments should be made only through apps recognised by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Malicious APK files and phishing links: Banks do not send APK files through WhatsApp or SMS. People should avoid clicking on suspicious links.
WhatsApp display-picture fraud: Users should lock their profile pictures and enable two-step verification.
Honey traps and sextortion: People should not share personal or intimate images with strangers they meet through social media profiles or matrimonial websites. They should immediately stop engaging with anyone who threatens them using recordings of video calls.
Digital arrest scams: People should not be intimidated by threatening video calls made in the names of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), police, customs, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), narcotics agencies or FedEx.
The police clarified that there is no legal procedure called digital arrest or online inquiry and that no government agency demands money online.
Police urge victims to report fraud immediately
Prompt reporting of cyber fraud can help freeze and recover lost money, the release said.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes and Special Investigation Team) M. Srinivasulu, IPS, urged the public to report cyber fraud immediately by calling the 1930 helpline or visiting www.cybercrime.gov.in.
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