Telangana Cops Bust Fake ‘DoT-Verified’ Phone Scam

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Telangana cyber cops bust fake ‘DoT-verified’ smartphone scam

Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has exposed a new kind of cyber fraud where scammers are tricking people using fake ‘DoT-verified’ smartphones.

The fraud begins with a call from conmen pretending to be bank executives. They offer victims a “premium credit card” but insist that it needs Department of Telecommunications (DoT) verification. A few days later, the victim receives a neatly packed smartphone with fake bank stickers, making it look authentic.

However, these phones come preloaded with hidden malware. Once the victim inserts their SIM card, the phone silently forwards OTPs and SMS messages to the fraudsters. A fake “DoT Secure” icon is also shown to make it look genuine.

In one shocking case, a Hyderabad resident lost ₹77 lakh in just 24 hours after using one of these phones. He realized something was wrong only when his SMS alerts stopped reaching his other SIM card.

Shikha Goel, Director of TGCSB, warned that this scam is a dangerous new trick by cybercriminals. “Fraudsters are hijacking OTPs and bank access through compromised devices. Citizens must stay extremely cautious,” she said.

TGCSB Safety Advisory:

Never accept free or unsolicited gadgets claiming to be from banks or DoT.
Do not insert SIM cards into unknown or suspicious devices.
Always confirm with your bank or official DoT helplines before responding to such calls.
If OTPs or SMS suddenly stop coming, treat it as a warning sign.
Report suspicious activity immediately to Cybercrime Helpline 1930 or lodge a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

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