The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police concluded a month-long enforcement drive in June that led to 36 arrests across five states, the registration of 52 FIRs, and the recovery of ₹48.98 lakh for victims of digital fraud. The operation, tied to 14 separate cybercrime investigations, also resulted in the takedown of 280 fraudulent social media profiles that had been promoting fake investment schemes, illegal betting platforms, and other online scams.
A Coordinated Multi-State Operation
Of the 36 people arrested, 22 were linked to investment fraud, six to matrimonial fraud, five to social media-related offences, and three to job fraud schemes. While the majority, 26 accused, were apprehended within Telangana, police also made arrests in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Delhi, underscoring how cyber fraud networks routinely operate across state lines to evade detection.
Investigators seized eight mobile phones, six debit cards, three SIM cards, two cheque books, and a bank passbook allegedly used to carry out the offences. The recovered ₹48.98 lakh was returned to victims across 24 cases that had together reported losses exceeding ₹5.08 crore, reflecting both the scale of the fraud and the limits of recovery once funds are dispersed through mule accounts.
Trading and investment scams accounted for the single largest share of complaints. Eight such cases alone caused losses of ₹70.70 lakh, of which only ₹10.56 lakh could be recovered. By contrast, police reported full recovery in six OTP fraud cases involving ₹15.88 lakh, and partial recovery of ₹12.04 lakh out of ₹20.29 lakh lost in two digital arrest scams.
The Anatomy of a ₹1.22 Crore Trading Fraud
Among the month’s more significant breakthroughs was the resolution of a ₹1.22 crore trading fraud case. A Hyderabad resident was lured into a fake WhatsApp investment group that promised institutional-grade stock market guidance and unusually high returns. When the victim attempted to withdraw funds, the fraudsters demanded an additional ₹35 lakh, falsely claiming it was necessary to release IPO shares, prompting the victim to approach the police instead.
The case led to four arrests and the seizure of devices and financial instruments used in the scheme. It illustrates a pattern that has become increasingly common nationwide. Investment-related scams alone now account for roughly 77 per cent of reported cyber-fraud losses in India, according to Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre data cited by national media, with fraudsters using social media advertisements, referral links, and deepfake videos of well-known personalities to build false credibility.
Separately, the Cyber Patrol Enforcement Unit identified 280 Facebook and Instagram accounts responsible for 310 paid advertisements promoting illegal betting, multi-level marketing schemes, and, in some instances, online child exploitation. All flagged profiles were reported to the respective platforms and subsequently removed, and one FIR was filed against a promoter. Since the patrol initiative began, authorities have facilitated the removal of 958 social media profiles and 2,517 paid advertisements linked to such activity.
A Wider Pattern Across the Country
Hyderabad’s Zonal Cyber Cells separately processed 2,288 complaints filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal during June, registering 287 FIRs and facilitating refunds of ₹1.08 crore. The city’s C-MITRA victim assistance initiative contacted 1,247 cybercrime victims and registered 225 Zero FIRs during the same period, aimed at ensuring faster legal recourse for those affected.
The Hyderabad numbers mirror a broader national trend. Telangana consistently ranks among the states with the highest volumes of reported cybercrime, a pattern attributed to its large technology workforce and high digital payment adoption. Nationally, cyber fraud losses reported through the NCRP portal have grown sharply in recent years, driven overwhelmingly by investment scams and digital arrest frauds.
A researcher at Algoritha Security, commenting on the trend, noted that cybercriminals are increasingly relying on social media advertisements, WhatsApp groups, deepfake videos, and fake investment platforms to exploit public trust. Citizens have been urged to avoid joining unverified investment groups, refrain from downloading APK files sent through messaging apps, and independently verify any financial request before acting on it. Prompt reporting to the 1930 helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, officials said, remains the most effective way to freeze fraudulent transactions before funds disappear.
