In a rare citizen-focused initiative, Cyberabad Police on Saturday organised its first-ever ‘Defreeze Accounts Mela’, handing over No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to bank customers whose accounts had been frozen during cyber fraud investigations.
The special camp, held at the commissionerate auditorium, aimed to provide immediate relief to genuine account holders who had been caught in precautionary freezes triggered by transactional links to cybercrime cases. Officials said the exercise marked a shift towards faster grievance redressal, even as enforcement agencies continue cracking down on organised digital fraud rackets.
Police explained that when cyber fraud victims report incidents — either through the national helpline or online complaint portals — suspected beneficiary accounts are swiftly frozen to prevent further diversion of funds. However, in several instances, innocent individuals also get flagged due to indirect money trails, creating serious hardships in accessing their own savings.
Addressing attendees, senior cybercrime officials said account freezing remains a crucial investigative tool, but acknowledged that not every linked account belongs to fraud perpetrators. To resolve such cases, the department undertook a focused verification drive ahead of the mela.
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Nearly 110 frozen accounts were reviewed through detailed scrutiny of transaction histories, identity documents and supporting records. Account holders found to have no criminal involvement were cleared after due legal procedure, following which NOCs were issued to facilitate immediate defreezing by banks.
Officials said the initiative allowed investigators to separate legitimate customers from suspect networks, enabling cybercrime units to concentrate resources on organised offenders rather than procedural follow-ups with innocent citizens.
“This model ensures timely relief to genuine account holders while strengthening our ability to track professional fraud operators,” a senior officer said, adding that similar camps may be organised periodically based on public response.
Apart from restoring access to bank accounts, police also conducted an awareness programme during the event, educating participants on safe digital banking practices. Citizens were warned against sharing OTPs, passwords, debit card details or personal information with unknown callers or online contacts.
Attendees were also advised to exercise caution while responding to suspicious links, investment offers and emergency requests received through messaging apps or social media platforms — methods increasingly used by cybercriminals to trap victims.
Officials reiterated that in the event of any suspected cyber fraud, victims should report incidents immediately to ensure faster tracing of funds and blocking of mule accounts before money is siphoned off through layered transactions.
The mela comes amid a sharp rise in cyber-enabled financial crimes across urban centres, with investigators noting that fraud syndicates increasingly rely on networks of intermediary accounts to launder stolen money. Law enforcement agencies across Telangana have stepped up monitoring of such mule accounts, while also introducing citizen-friendly mechanisms to prevent prolonged financial distress for legitimate customers.
Police sources said the Hyderabad region has witnessed a steady increase in digital fraud complaints over the past year, driven largely by phishing scams, fake investment schemes and impersonation calls. With cybercrime tactics becoming more sophisticated, authorities are now focusing equally on enforcement and public awareness.
The Defreeze Accounts Mela represents a rare attempt to balance both priorities — protecting victims’ funds while ensuring innocent account holders are not left entangled in lengthy investigations.
Residents welcomed the move, calling it a much-needed relief measure in an era where even routine digital transactions can unknowingly draw individuals into complex cyber probes.
Officials confirmed that feedback from Saturday’s programme will be reviewed to refine future editions of the initiative, with plans to scale up verification drives if complaint volumes continue to rise.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
