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Newsbeat

37 Held in Cybercrime Crackdown, ₹14.5 Cr Recovered

Hyderabad Cybercrime Cops Arrest 37, Recover ₹14.5 Crore in Fraud Cases

Hyderabad: The Cybercrime wing of the Hyderabad police has arrested 37 people from six different states during a major crackdown on cyber fraud that took place between March 9 and June 14. Thanks to this action, over ₹14.5 crore was returned to victims across the country.

These accused were involved in at least 178 cybercrime cases nationwide, with 74 cases registered in Telangana alone. The arrests include:

  • 18 from Telangana
  • 5 from Andhra Pradesh
  • 5 from Delhi
  • 3 from Rajasthan
  • 2 each from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana

Police also seized many items used in these crimes, including:

  • 74 mobile phones
  • 156 cheque books
  • 22 SIM cards
  • 11 laptops
  • 11 debit cards
  • 115 fake company stamps and seals
  • Fake IDs, QR code scanners, OTP detectors, and more

Key Cases:

  1. Fake Investment Scam
    Two men from Uttar Pradesh, Nikhil Kaushik and Amar Sharma, tricked a victim into investing ₹1.98 crore in fake trading apps. They pretended to be from Barclays Wealth Management and other firms, using fake websites to show false profits. Later, they demanded more money for fake taxes and charges. These two were already wanted in 47 other cases.
  2. Online Harassment of Woman Entrepreneur
    A Hyderabad woman who sells crystals online was harassed by a man pretending to be a customer. When she refused to respond, he spread vulgar content about her on social media. The man, identified as Kuna Dharmarao from Dilsukhnagar, was arrested.
  3. Fake Facebook Profile of Bureaucrat
    A senior government officer’s name and photo were used to create a fake Facebook account. The scammer, Arbaj Khan from Alwar, Rajasthan, tried to collect money from the officer’s friends by pretending to be him. He had also posed as a CRPF officer in other scams.

Public Advisory

The police warned people to stay alert and avoid:

  • Responding to suspicious video calls or messages from people claiming to be from CBI, ED, or TRAI.
  • Believing in digital “arrests” or paying fines via calls or apps like Skype.
  • Investing in high-return schemes shared through Telegram, WhatsApp, or Instagram without checking if they are SEBI-approved.

What You Can Do

If you suspect fraud or lose money online, report it immediately to the 1930 helpline or visit cybercrime.gov.in. Fast reporting can help recover lost money.

ALSO READ | 15 Fake Doctors Booked Across Telangana

Newsbeat

Hyderabad Sees 24% Rise in Cybercrimes in 2023

Cybercrime in Hyderabad Rises: Key Takeaways from the 2023 Cybersecurity Summit

Hyderabad: Cybercrimes have risen by 24% in Hyderabad, according to City Police Commissioner CV Anand. He shared this update at the Hyderabad Annual Cybersecurity Knowledge Summit, where he emphasized that cybersecurity is no longer just the responsibility of the police but needs the attention of everyone.

 

Anand pointed out that cybercriminals are becoming more dangerous, using tricks like offering easy money or threatening victims with fake arrest threats. He stressed that tackling cybercrime requires efforts from individuals, businesses, and government agencies.

 

So far this year, the police have helped return Rs 35.8 crore to victims of cyber fraud. Recently, 28 cybercriminals were arrested in Rajasthan, involved in 283 cases across India, including 28 in Telangana.

 

During the summit, Brijesh Singh, Additional DGP of Maharashtra, mentioned the need to continuously adapt to new and evolving cyber threats. Shikha Goel, DGP CID Telangana, spoke about the importance of better cooperation between the public, businesses, and law enforcement to fight these crimes.

 

A special session at the event featured actor Adivi Sesh and Bharani Kumar Aroll of the Hyderabad City Security Council, where they launched the “I AM READY” campaign, urging citizens to commit to digital safety. The summit saw participation from over 500 people, including business leaders, educators, and experts.

Source.

Also Read | Cybercrime Probe Bank Staff’s Role in Fraud Surge