Telangana Cyber Bureau Busts ₹95-Crore Cyber Fraud, 81 Held

Hyderabad: In its first-ever simultaneous multi-state operation, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) conducted coordinated raids in five states and arrested 81 cybercriminals, including seven women. The accused were involved in 128 cases across the country, looting an estimated amount of about ₹95 crore from people.

Of the 81 arrested, 12 individuals were found to have links to more than 30 crimes across India, while 54 others were involved in more than five different cybercrime cases. Special teams, using advanced technology, worked in coordination with local police in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh over the past 25 days.

The accused come from diverse backgrounds, including private employees, healthcare professionals, IT staff, brokers, students, and daily wage workers, reflecting the alarming spread of digital financial fraud across sectors.

Preliminary investigation indicates that some of the accused have links with individuals operating from outside India, and Look-Out Circulars (LOCs) are being opened against the identified foreign-linked suspects.

This large-scale mission marks the first-ever simultaneous multi-state cybercrime crackdown led by the TGCSB, reflecting its zero-tolerance policy towards cybercrime and its commitment to dismantling organized online fraud networks operating across India, TGCSB director Shikha Goel said.

A key focus of the operation is TGCSB’s effort to break the supply chain that enables cybercriminals to function with impunity, she added.

Facilitators who provide bank accounts, mobile numbers, SIM cards, and financial channels act as essential infrastructure for fraud call centres, many of which operate from abroad. By identifying and arresting these enablers, TGCSB said it aims to dismantle the ecosystem that supports large-scale financial fraud.

- A total of 81 cybercrime suspects were arrested in connection with 128 cases, involving ₹95 crore in fraudulent transactions.

- Twenty eight people, including seven women, were from Kerala, 23 from Maharashtra, 10 from Andhra Pradesh, seven from Tamil Nadu, and 13 from Karnataka.

-Of them, 17 were identified as agents, 11 involved in cheque and cash withdrawals amounting to ₹34,70,900, and 53 were mule account holders receiving up to five per cent commission.

-Seized items include 84 mobile phones, 101 SIM cards, and 89 bank passbooks/cheque books.

-Multiple bank accounts linked to the accused have been frozen and refund processes for victims have been initiated in coordination with financial institutions.