The cybercrime wing of the Hyderabad police arrested 43 cyber criminals from 15 States in connection with 34 cases registered in the commissionerate during a special operation carried out in December 2025. The officials facilitated refunds of more than ₹2 crore to victims, according to official data released on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Investment fraud topped the charts with 19 cases followed by digital arrest scams with eight and one case each in categories of social media fraud, business fraud, hacking, customer care fraud and online piracy. Through these operations, the police managed to refund ₹1.33 crore to victims.
During the month, the wing received 266 complaints through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, of which 144 first information reports were registered. Zonal cyber cells across Hyderabad received 2,195 petitions, leading to the registration of 80 FIRs. In these cases, 15 persons were arrested across the country in connection with 13 cases, and ₹72.36 lakh was refunded to the victims.
The arrested accused were found to be linked to as many as 119 cybercrime cases across different States including 19 in Telangana, 15 in Karnataka, 14 in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra each and 12 in Rajasthan. Their bank accounts recording transactions totalling nearly ₹73 crore.
During the arrests, police seized 23 mobile phones, a laptop, nine cheque books, two bank passbooks, 16 debit cards, three rubber stamps, three QR code scanners, three PAN cards and gaming cards, which were allegedly used to facilitate cyber fraud.
Among the significant cases detected was a ‘digital arrest’ scam involving a 75-year-old housewife, who was allegedly deceived by fraudsters posing as government and telecom officials. By creating fear through false allegations against her husband and misusing personal details, the accused allegedly coerced her into transferring ₹1.95 crore through RTGS for so-called verification. Following an investigation, three accused, identified as Saiyad Soyab Jahid, 26, Belim Anas Rahim, 24, and Dinesbhai Keshubhai Babariya, 32, all from Bhavnagar in Gujarat were arrested, and two mobile phones were seized.
In another similar case, a senior citizen was allegedly targeted through WhatsApp calls by persons impersonating government and police officials. The victim was falsely accused of involvement in human trafficking, overseas job fraud and money laundering, and was threatened with arrest. Under sustained intimidation, he transferred ₹59 lakh to accounts provided by the fraudsters. Two accused, identified as Surampudi Chandrasekhar, 31 and Emandi Venkat Naveen, 25, both from East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh were arrested in the case.
The public has been urged to report cyber fraud immediately through the 1930 helpline or the cybercrime reporting portal, as prompt reporting can help freeze accounts and recover lost funds.
Published – January 08, 2026 07:32 pm IST
