Hyderabad: Cybercrime Wing of the Hyderabad Police launched a massive crackdown against online scammers in six states and arrested 37 fraudsters from March 9 to June 14.
The multi-state crackdown unearthed a vast network of cybercriminals and led to the refund of over Rs 14.5 crore to victims across the country.
According to officials, the arrested individuals were involved in at least 178 cybercrime cases, 74 of which were registered in Telangana. The state-wise breakdown includes five arrests each from Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, two each from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, three from Rajasthan, two from Haryana, and 18 from Telangana.
The police seized a large cache of digital and financial evidence used in the execution of these crimes. The haul included 74 mobile phones, 11 laptops, 156 cheque books, 11 debit cards, 22 SIM cards, eight bank passbooks, five rubber stamps, 115 fake company seals, two OTP detectors, QR code scanners, and forged identity documents.
Investment scam uncovered
Among the significant cases was a high-value investment fraud, in which scammers posed as representatives of Barclays Wealth Management and a fake firm, UP Asset Allocation Z06. The fraudsters lured a victim via Facebook and WhatsApp to invest Rs 1.98 crore in bogus trading platforms.
The victim was later coerced into paying additional sums under the pretext of tax and conversion charges. Two individuals from Uttar Pradesh, Nikhil Kaushik from Noida and Amar Sharma from Kanpur were arrested. Both are linked to at least 47 cases across the country.
Harassment and online defamation
In another incident, a woman entrepreneur from Hyderabad, who runs an online crystal-selling business, was repeatedly harassed by a man pretending to be a customer. When she refused to engage with him, the accused circulated vulgar and defamatory content about her on social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram.
The accused, Kuna Dharmarao alias Rohit, a 25-year-old private employee from Dilsukhnagar, was arrested and sent to judicial custody.
Bureaucrat targeted by impersonation scam
A senior bureaucrat also fell prey to a digital impersonation scam. A fake Facebook profile was created in his name, which was used to solicit money from his acquaintances. The accused, Arbaj Khan (19) of Alwar, Rajasthan, had used stolen photographs to impersonate not just the bureaucrat, but also CRPF and other high-ranking officials. He was found to be involved in at least two cases in Telangana.
Public Advisory
Following these incidents, the Hyderabad Police issued a strong advisory to the public, cautioning against responding to threatening video calls or messages from individuals claiming to represent government bodies such as the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, or TRAI.
Officials clarified that no legitimate government agency conducts arrests via digital platforms or seeks money over video calls.
The public was also warned about fraudulent investment groups on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram that promise high returns. Citizens were urged to invest only through SEBI-approved platforms or consult licensed financial advisors.
Authorities stressed the importance of prompt reporting in such cases. Victims of cyber fraud are encouraged to call the 1930 helpline or file complaints on the national cybercrime portal at cybercrime.gov.in for timely action and possible fund recovery.
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