A cyber fraud network allegedly targeting Australian victims has brought a Khammam native under intensified police scrutiny, with investigators probing the laundering of overseas scam proceeds through bank accounts opened in Telangana. Potru Praveen, already facing action in a major cybercrime case, is now under investigation by Khammam police for his suspected role in routing money generated from an Australia-based call centre scam into Indian accounts.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
Investigators are examining whether bank accounts opened by local residents were misused to channel funds siphoned off from Australian victims. The inquiry is being carried out alongside an ongoing probe by Cyberabad cybercrime police, who are sharing case details with Khammam authorities to trace financial links between the two cases.
The case centres on an alleged fraudulent call centre operation run under the name Ridge IT Solutions, which was functioning from Ayyappa Society in Hyderabad. Police allege that the setup targeted Australian citizens by impersonating software service providers and using deceptive online tactics to extract money.
According to investigators, Praveen, along with his cousin Prakash, established Ridge IT Solutions in 2024. They allegedly hired Y Ganesh and M Chenna Keshava, both natives of Khammam, to manage daily operations. Seven telecallers were reportedly brought in from West Bengal to handle calls and execute the scam.
The fraud followed a familiar cybercrime pattern. Victims visiting selected websites, including adult platforms, were shown pop-up alerts falsely claiming their systems were infected with malware. The alerts urged users to call a displayed helpline number. Once contacted, telecallers posing as technical support staff convinced victims to install remote desktop software on their devices.
Under the pretext of fixing the problem, victims were guided through banking procedures and persuaded to make payments towards supposed service charges. Investigators say sensitive banking details were quietly captured during these interactions. Funds were first transferred to Australian bank accounts—many allegedly held by Indian nationals—before being routed through multiple channels and eventually encashed in India.
Police suspect that bank accounts sourced from residents of Khammam were also used as part of this laundering network. In January, Praveen and 17 others were arrested for allegedly inducing individuals to open bank accounts and share credentials, which were then used to move fraud proceeds. Authorities say these accounts are linked to hundreds of cybercrime cases registered across the country.
While Praveen is currently out on bail in the Khammam case, investigators say he remains under close watch. Cyberabad police have sought transaction records and case files from their Khammam counterparts to establish whether funds from Australian victims passed through local accounts.
Investigators also note that some accused in the case remain absconding and are attempting to secure pre-arrest bail. Police say cooperation from the accused has been limited, forcing investigators to rely heavily on transaction analysis, account mapping and digital evidence to piece together the money trail.
Court records show that Praveen had earlier obtained pre-arrest bail in a separate Cyberabad case. The court, while granting relief, observed that he had been named as an accused primarily on the basis of statements from co-accused, and that there was no direct evidence placing him at the scene during the raid at the time.
According to police sources, Praveen is a graduate who previously worked in the United Kingdom before allegedly entering cyber fraud activities in recent years. Investigators believe his overseas exposure may have helped structure scams that specifically targeted foreign nationals.
The case highlights the growing sophistication of cross-border cyber fraud networks and the increasing use of unsuspecting locals as conduits for laundering illicit funds. Police say further arrests and asset tracing are likely as the investigation expands.
For now, authorities remain focused on following the digital money trail to determine the full scale of the operation and identify additional beneficiaries of the scam proceeds.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
