Major Cyber Fraud Syndicate Dismantled in Telangana: 81 Arrests Across Five States
Hyderabad, November 21, 2025 – In a significant offensive against digital misconduct, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has unravelled an extensive cyber fraud network, leading to the apprehension of 81 suspects across five states. This formidable operation has unveiled schemes that illicitly extracted nearly ₹95 crore from unwitting victims.
Referred to as a “multi-state blitz,” this 25-day initiative specifically targeted a complex web of counterfeit customer care operations, Ponzi investment schemes, and fraudulent arrest cons, making it one of the most noteworthy coordinated takedowns in recent Indian cybercrime history.
The arrests, which spanned Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, were disclosed on November 9 after exhaustive surveillance and cross-border collaborations.
Officials from TGCSB indicated that the syndicate had created over 754 crime connections nationwide, with 128 cases directly linked to Telangana, involving deceptive transactions totalling ₹95.2 crore.
Among those detained were 12 prominent operatives, each managing more than 30 criminal affiliations, alongside 54 mid-tier facilitators, as well as mule account holders and technical accomplices who laundered illicit funds through a convoluted network of bank accounts and digital wallets.
“This operation reveals the insidious nature of organised cybercrime, wherein swindlers assume the guise of legitimate entities to exploit public confidence,” stated TGCSB Director K. Ram Mohan Rao at a press conference in Hyderabad.
“We have confiscated 150 mobile devices, 45 laptops, 20 SIM cards, and compromising documents that elucidate their methodologies—from scripted ‘refund’ calls to fraudulent trading platforms promising instantaneous wealth.”
Rao praised the bureau’s utilisation of advanced analytical techniques to trace transaction flows, attributing the operation’s success to real-time collaboration with cyber units across the involved states.
The fraudulent activities predominantly targeted vulnerable demographics, including elderly individuals and small-scale investors, employing tactics such as impersonating bank officials under the pretence of “account verification” or enticing victims into fictitious cryptocurrency platforms.
A notable incident reported a Kerala-based call centre defrauding over 200 individuals of ₹15 crore by masquerading as a customer support team for a reputed e-commerce giant.
Telangana itself recorded 41 such incidents in the previous year, encompassing losses that surpassed ₹30 crore, highlighting the state’s rise as a cybercrime nexus amid its thriving IT landscape.
This crackdown occurs in the context of a notable uptick in cyber complaints, with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) documenting over 1.5 lakh cases nationwide in 2025—a 25% increase from the preceding year.
Critics have long lamented the insufficient cross-border enforcement; however, TGCSB’s initiative signifies a pivotal shift towards proactive, technology-oriented law enforcement.
“This serves as an alert for all states to unite their resources against these transnational threats,” remarked cyber specialist Dr Anjali Gupta from the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, who provided expertise during the investigation.
As inquiries advance, authorities are investigating possible international connections, with initial leads suggesting links to script providers based in the Philippines.
Those arrested face prosecution under the Information Technology Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and money laundering regulations, with bail hearings anticipated next week.
For affected individuals, TGCSB has established a dedicated helpline (1930) and an online portal for claims, urging prompt reporting to facilitate the recovery of frozen assets.
In an era where digital transactions in India surpass ₹200 lakh crore annually, this operation underscores the formidable reach of law enforcement in the digital domain.
Nevertheless, as fraudsters adapt, the true challenge lies in prevention—empowering the populace with awareness before the next phishing lure is presented.
Source link: Tconews.in.
