Hyderabad Cybercrime Police arrested 49 individuals from 15 states during July 2025 in connection with 25 cybercrime cases, recovering and refunding ₹98,89,202 to victims over the same period. The operation, details of which were released on Friday, 7 August, underscores the widening geographic spread of cybercrime networks targeting residents of Hyderabad and Telangana.

Nature of Cases and Arrests

Of the 49 accused arrested, trading fraud accounted for the largest share with 29 individuals, followed by social media fraud (5), digital arrest fraud (3), and WhatsApp display picture (DP) fraud (3). Matrimonial fraud led to 2 arrests, while one accused each was nabbed for APK fraud, crypto trading impersonation, investment fraud, job fraud, a POCSO-related offence, and purchasing old coins.

The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) received multiple complaints during the month, out of which 70 FIRs were formally registered by the Cybercrime Police Station, according to the police statement.

State-wise Breakdown of Arrests

Telangana recorded the highest number of arrests at 13, followed by Maharashtra (7), Rajasthan (6), and West Bengal (5). Uttar Pradesh contributed 4 arrests; Bihar yielded 3; while Delhi, Haryana, and Jharkhand accounted for 2 each. Single arrests were made in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab, and Uttarakhand.

Seized items across operations included 25 debit cards, 23 mobile phones, 9 cheque books, 7 passbooks, 5 rubber stamps, 3 laptops, 2 PAN cards, 2 rental agreements, and one each of a UAE resident identity card, a credit card, and a passport.

Financial Losses and Refunds by Category

Trading fraud — spanning 25 cases — recorded the steepest losses at ₹11,75,83,416, with ₹58,23,217 refunded to victims. Investment fraud (3 cases) saw losses of ₹1,50,79,585 and refunds of ₹12,78,136. APK fraud (3 cases) resulted in losses of ₹13,19,218, with ₹8,75,386 recovered for victims.

Concurrently, Zonal Cyber Cells received 2,059 NCRP petitions, registered 298 FIRs, arrested 6 individuals across 5 cases, and refunded ₹27,09,320 to victims during the same period.

Cyber Patrol and Key Detected Case

Under the Cyber Patrol Enforcement initiative, officers identified 128 social media profiles across Facebook and Instagram running 36 paid advertisements promoting online child exploitation, multilevel marketing, and fake investment websites targeting Indian users. These profiles reportedly used promotional content, referral links, and deepfake videos of well-known personalities. All 128 profiles were taken down and one FIR was registered against a promoter.

Cumulatively, cyber patrol efforts have resulted in 1,086 social media profiles and 2,553 paid promotional advertisements being removed, with 9 FIRs registered against promoters. Under the C-Mitra initiative, 1,537 calls were made to victims for guidance, and 231 Zero FIRs were registered.

A notable case involved trading fraud in which fraudsters compromised the WhatsApp communication of Bhoomi Bio Products Pvt. Ltd. by using the representative's profile picture to impersonate them, inducing the company's accounts team to transfer ₹25 lakh via RTGS to AKK Contractors at IndusInd Bank. Following an NCRP complaint, police arrested the accused, Abhinandan Kumar Kamat, an accountant and resident of Gurugram, Haryana.

With trading fraud alone accounting for losses exceeding ₹11.75 crore in a single month, authorities are expected to intensify inter-state coordination as cybercrime networks continue to operate across state lines.