The cybercrime wing of the Malkajgiri Police has arrested seven persons in connection with six cyber fraud cases detected between February 22 and 28, exposing what investigators described as a pan-India network involved in investment scams, matrimony fraud, loan app cheating and so-called “digital arrest” schemes.
Police said that during the week-long drive, they were able to facilitate refunds amounting to ₹53.27 lakh to victims by swiftly coordinating with banks and payment gateways to freeze suspect accounts.
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In one investment fraud case, Vallepu Somaraju, a 34-year-old real estate businessman from Khammam, was arrested for allegedly allowing his Axis Bank account to be used by cybercriminals to route defrauded funds. The complainant had been approached by persons posing as senior executives of a reputed securities firm and was persuaded to download a fraudulent trading application. He was also added to a WhatsApp group where fabricated screenshots showing high returns were regularly posted to build credibility.
Believing the scheme to be genuine, the victim transferred ₹4.5 lakh in stages. A portion of the amount was later traced to the accused’s bank account, leading to his arrest.
In a separate “digital arrest” case, Dhanush Kalli of Serilingampalli was taken into custody for allegedly procuring and supplying bank accounts to cyber fraudsters. The victim, a woman, received calls from individuals impersonating officials of TRAI and later the CBI, who falsely accused her of being linked to a money laundering case. She was intimidated through continuous video calls and instructed to maintain secrecy, a tactic commonly used to isolate victims.
Under sustained pressure, she transferred ₹68.47 lakh, including funds from her husband’s account. Investigators said the accused played a role in facilitating the financial transactions used in the fraud.
A matrimony-related cheating case led to the arrest of A. Praveena from Langer Houz. A woman had been duped of ₹1.09 crore by a man she met on a Christian matrimony platform. The fraudster, who identified himself as William Sangma Aman, promised marriage and claimed he had been detained at Delhi airport for carrying foreign currency.
Citing release charges, taxes and legal expenses, he repeatedly sought money from the victim over several months. It was only after the demands continued unabated that she realised she had been deceived and approached the police.
Three other investment fraud cases resulted in the arrest of Nakka Vijay Kumar of Hayathnagar, Reyyi Appalaswamy and Pusapati Kotesh of Somajiguda. In these cases, victims were targeted through advertisements on YouTube and Instagram and subsequently added to fake WhatsApp groups impersonating established brokerage firms.
They were encouraged to download fraudulent applications and invest in IPOs, institutional trading plans and over-the-counter deals. Initially, small profits were reflected in the apps to gain the victims’ trust. However, once larger sums were invested, withdrawals were blocked on various pretexts, including alleged tax liabilities and processing fees.
In one instance, a victim invested nearly ₹59.37 lakh and suffered a net loss exceeding ₹58 lakh. In another case, the amount cheated was approximately ₹80 lakh.
In a loan app fraud case, Katravath Sainath was arrested for allegedly targeting individuals who had applied online for personal loans. A woman seeking a ₹5 lakh loan was instructed to pay security deposits and processing charges totalling ₹2.04 lakh after submitting her Aadhaar, PAN and bank details. The promised loan was never disbursed.
Police said the accused, along with an associate operating from Mumbai, created fake sanction letters and fabricated RBI documents to convince victims of the scheme’s authenticity.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crimes, cautioned citizens against responding to unsolicited investment offers, part-time job schemes, online loan advertisements and impersonation calls. The public has been advised not to share banking credentials, Aadhaar, PAN or OTP details with unknown persons and to verify investment platforms with authorised regulators before transferring funds.
Victims of cyber fraud have been urged to immediately dial the national helpline 1930 or file complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to enhance the chances of freezing and recovering funds. Further investigation into the financial trail and possible additional suspects is underway.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
