In a major breakthrough, Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have arrested three individuals from Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, for their role in a digital arrest fraud case, as stated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crimes.
The police identified the accused as Thota Srinivasa Rao (59), Lam Jeevankumar (38), and Tammishetty Raghuveer (40). They carried out a sophisticated scam that targeted victims across India.
Modus Operandi of the Fraudsters
The police stated that cyber fraudsters duped Veeraboina Sai Raj, a resident of Hyderabad, into transferring Rs 3,57,998 to their bank accounts. The accused contacted Raj, pretending to be a Head Constable from Mumbai, and informed him that a case had been registered against him. They instructed Raj to transfer the money to their account for verification purposes.
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The fraudsters assured Mr. Raj that they would refund the amount to his account within 24 hours and provide him with a Police Clearance Certificate. As a result, he ultimately lost the transferred amount of Rs. 3,57,998. The complainant further stated that the group of telecallers, with the help of several bank accounts, as per their well-orchestrated plan, impersonated themselves as bank officials and cheated him to the tune an amount of Rs. 3,57,998.
Past Crimes and Seizure of Evidence
The release stated that the accused impersonated government officials, including police officers, and threatened victims with false cases and arrests. They coerced the victims into transferring large sums of money to their bank accounts. Their involvement is in 13 such cases across the country.
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The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have also seized several items from the accused, including several mobile phones, cheque books, bank passbooks, debit and credit cards, PAN cards, and receipt books.
Advisory from the Police and Previous Case Resolution
The police have advised citizens to be cautious when receiving calls from unknown numbers, especially those claiming to be government officials. They have also urged victims of similar scams to come forward and report the incidents to the authorities.
Earlier on March 27, the Hyderabad Police’s Cyber Crime Unit successfully refunded Rs 9,50,531 to a businessman, who fell victim to an online business fraud.
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The police stated that cyber fraudsters duped a 32-year-old businessman from Hyderabad into transferring Rs 9,50,531 to their bank accounts under the pretext of a business deal. Acting swiftly, the Cyber Crime Unit registered a case under Cr. No. 3083/2024, U/Sec 66(C), 66(D) of the IT Act, and U/Sec 111(2)(b), 318(4), 319(2) of the BNS, and launched an investigation.
Inspector K Prasada Rao, along with SI Abhishek, HC Satish, and PCs Srinivas Reddy and Kranthi Kumar Reddy, traced and apprehended the accused in Sector-7, Dwarka, New Delhi. The police successfully recovered the entire defrauded amount and returned it to the victim through a demand draft.
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Public Advisory on Business Fraud
There is some public advisory, as per the statement, cyber fraudsters are targeting business owners by falsely promising lucrative business orders for their products. Fraudsters lure victims into paying registration fees, process charges, issuance of ISO certificates, and for developing business websites under the pretense of high market demand. Once victims make the payments, the fraudsters cut off all communication, leaving them defrauded.
“Verify authenticity before making any payment, and thoroughly research the company or individuals offering business deals,” the statement cautioned, adding to check official sources and confirm business opportunities through trusted government and industry platforms. “Beware of upfront payments and legitimate business deals rarely require large prepayments for registration or order processing,” it said.
“Sanitise emails and calls and be cautious of unsolicited calls, emails, and messages claiming unrealistic business offers. Use payment methods to avoid making payments to unknown individuals or accounts; prefer escrow services for transactions,” it went on.
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