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Cybercrime in Hyderabad: Police Dismantle Nationwide Fraud Network

Cybercrime in Hyderabad

Cybercrime in Hyderabad: Police Crack Down on Nationwide Financial Fraud Network Hyderabad, Jan 10: In a significant move to combat cybercrime in Hyderabad, the city police have arrested 23 offenders involved in a massive nationwide financial fraud network. This breakthrough came after coordinated operations across Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Large-Scale Cybercrime Network Uncovered The arrests revealed the involvement of the suspects in 30 cases within Telangana and 359 cases across the country. The fraudulent activities, which included scams targeting innocent individuals, resulted in financial losses amounting to Rs 5.30 crore. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cybercrimes), Dara Kavitha, emphasized the rise of cybercrime in Hyderabad and outlined the efforts of five dedicated teams that uncovered the syndicate’s operations. The investigations exposed sophisticated methods used by the criminals, leveraging loopholes in systems to execute large-scale scams. Types of Cyber Fraud and Seizures The cases detected include: Investment fraud: 5 cases Digital arrest scams: 2 cases Trading fraud: 3 cases Job fraud: 2 cases APK file fraud: 1 case The police seized a range of items used in the frauds, such as: Rs 40,000 in cash 25 mobile phones 45 SIM cards 29 bank passbooks/checkbooks 23 debit and credit cards A laptop Three QR code scanners Five shell company stamps Victim Relief and Preventive Measures As part of the operation, Rs 39 lakh was recovered and refunded to victims in three cases. This reflects the commitment of the cybercrime unit in ensuring justice for victims of cybercrime in Hyderabad and across India. DCP Kavitha praised the coordinated efforts that led to the dismantling of organized fraud networks. She stressed the importance of citizen awareness in combating cyber scams. Cybercrime Prevention Tips for Citizens The Hyderabad police issued a set of advisories to protect citizens from falling victim to scams. Key recommendations include: Avoid interacting with unknown individuals on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Be cautious of platforms offering high returns on small investments. Remember that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not issue digital arrests or demand money to prove innocence. Verify suspicious claims by visiting your nearest police station. A Step Forward in Fighting Cybercrime in Hyderabad This operation marks a crucial step in addressing cybercrime in Hyderabad and dismantling fraudulent networks on a national scale. The Hyderabad police’s efforts underline their commitment to protecting citizens and preventing future scams.

This state in India has saved $31.2 million from cyber criminals

cybercrime

According to Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur, the police also tied up with major banks, which led to 15 nodal officers from 10 major banks joining forces with the police on a common platform to combat cybercrime Police in Haryana claimed on 9 Jan 2025 that the north Indian state is the first in the country in terms of the number of cybercrime tackled or prevented in 2024. It has saved about $31.2 million from cybercrime up from $8.9 mn in 2023. This amount is five times more than what was saved in 2022. Haryana’s police also successfully recovered and refunded fraudulently siphoned money to victims. In 2023, they were given back $3.8 million, which increased by November 2024 to $11 million. Smart strategies: Stronger alliance with banks The success, said the police, came as a result of learning and understanding the methods of cyber criminals and working closely with the banks. The Indian state has also increased the number of police personnel on its cyber helpline 1930 (which is a toll-free helpline number in India for reporting cyber crimes) from a workforce of 12 to 70. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur, the police also tied up with major banks, which led to 15 nodal officers from 10 major banks joining forces with the police on a common platform to combat cybercrime. Cyber police have been running after the Lok Adalats to return money to the victims without going through a long judicial process. Increase in cases and arrests According to Kapur, the Haryana Police made several strides in eliminating cybercrime. In 2024, the police registered 5,511 cases of cyber fraud, more than double the 2,747 cases registered in 2023 and up from 2,165 cases in 2022. Arrests also surged, with the police arresting 5,156 cybercriminals in 2024 compared to 1,909 in 2023 and 1,078 in 2022. A notable 70 percent (3,555) of those arrested were from other states, and the police averaged 14 arrests per day. Kapur praised the efforts of the entire cyber team for their dedication and hard work in tackling the crime saying, “The work done by our cyber cell has brought us to the top in terms of blocking cyber fraud and recovering stolen funds.” Improved cyber fraud prevention Haryana Police’s efforts have also enhanced the rate at which fraudulent amounts are blocked. The rate of blocked amounts in cyber fraud cases rose from 7 percent in September 2023 to 36 percent in December 2024, making it the highest in the country. Following this, if a victim files a complaint within six hours after the fraud, then 70 percent of lost money is blocked. This is also the highest percentage within the country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah honored the Haryana police for their success in reducing cybercrime in 2024. He lauded the police’s work in running the cyber helpline DGP Kapur revealed that the police managed to close 2,83,589 bank accounts and 1,24,565 mobile numbers involved in cyber fraud.