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From fake bosses to digital arrests, cyber crooks strike…

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activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestTelangana

From fake bosses to digital arrests, cyber crooks strike for ₹5.3 crore in Hyderabad

Cyber criminals targeted residents and institutions in Hyderabad through multiple distinct scams, collectively resulting in an alleged loss of Rs 5.3 crore. In the first incident, a local supermarket lost Rs 2.7 crore after fraudsters impersonated the company's CEO on WhatsApp. The culprits manipulated the company's accountant into transferring funds over several days by sending a malicious file and taking over communication channels.

State

Telangana

First reported

October 2026

Amount alleged

₹5.3 crore

Total Amount Alleged

Rs 5.3 crore

Agency Involved

Cybercrime police

Status

Cases registered and under investigation

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

In a separate incident, a 72-year-old retired woman from Nampally fell victim to a digital arrest scam. Posing as law enforcement and regulatory officials, fraudsters accused her of money laundering, subjected her to intimidation over video calls, and induced her to transfer Rs 2.12 crore across multiple transactions under the pretext of government verification.

Additionally, a 73-year-old retired government employee and his radiologist son lost Rs 52.51 lakh in a fake initial public offering investment scam. Lured by an Instagram advertisement promising high daily returns, the victims transferred money through a fraudulent mobile application before realizing they were cheated when withdrawal demands were met with requests for more funds.

Not yet reported: The reports do not specify any suspect identifications or arrests made in connection with the cases.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

Police have registered separate cheating cases under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and are investigating the incidents while conducting public awareness campaigns.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

The victims include a local supermarket through its accountant, a 72-year-old retired female employee, and a 73-year-old retired government employee alongside his UK-based radiologist son.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

Sept 5A retired woman received an initial call claiming her mobile number had been misused.

Sept 7 to 30The retired woman transferred Rs 2.12 crore in ten transactions to various bank accounts.

Last week of SeptemberA retired government employee's son visited Hyderabad and encountered a fake IPO advertisement on Instagram.

Oct 1 to 8A supermarket accountant transferred Rs 2.7 crore based on fraudulent WhatsApp instructions from a fake CEO profile.

Oct 1 to 8The retired employee and his son transferred Rs 52.51 lakh into individual bank accounts via a fake investment platform.

Oct 9The supermarket fraud came to light when the accused demanded an additional transfer while the actual CEO was present in the office.

Oct 12The retired woman filed her complaint regarding the digital arrest scam.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

Fraudsters sent a malicious ZIP file on WhatsApp from a compromised employee number, freezing a supermarket accountant's computer and replacing the CEO's contact with an imposter.
Scammers contacted a retired woman via a telecommunications department pretext, escalated to video calls posing as crime branch officers, and used forged judicial and investigative documents to intimidate her.
Victims of an investment scheme were drawn in via social media advertisements, added to messaging groups mimicking legitimate brokerage firms, and induced to transfer funds through fake trading applications.

Targeted by something similar?

Call 1930 (free, 24x7) straight away, then file at cybercrime.gov.in. Money reported in the first hours is far easier to freeze.

Report it on Report Scams Emergency guide How these scams work

Keep reading

More cases like this one.

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Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

timesofindia.indiatimes.comOriginal report The Times of IndiaOpens via Google News

Prepared by Report Scams, with the help of AI, from the published reports listed above. Check those reports for the latest. Cases here describe allegations. An FIR, arrest or charge is not a finding of guilt. To report a mistake, or to ask for a correction or removal, write to our Grievance Officer. See also the Safe Posting policy.