A week-long push against online fraud

Cyberabad’s cyber crimes wing reported significant progress in a concentrated, week-long drive against online fraud, identifying 10 cases across several States and arresting 13 suspects between September 17 and 23. The operation, which targeted networks behind trading scams, impersonation-led cheating, “digital arrest” schemes, and job or part-time work rackets, also led to key seizures and court-ordered refunds.

Officials said nine of the detected cases were tied to trading-related frauds, a pattern that has surged alongside retail investing and social-media based “advisory” channels. During the operations, investigators seized 13 mobile phones and 14 SIM cards believed to have been used to coordinate transactions and communicate with victims.

Key arrests and recoveries

  • Arrests: 13 suspects detained across multiple cases during September 17–23.
  • Seizures: 13 mobile phones and 14 SIM cards recovered.
  • Refunds: Courts issued 370 refund orders in 113 cases, enabling ₹1.69 crore to be returned to victims.
  • Major case spotlight: A victim lost ₹51.65 lakh in a trading scam; four men — Kondapalli Suneel Kanth, Penchala Kishore Rachaputi, Rawal Bhupesh, and Kadiyam Raviteja — were arrested.
  • Networked accounts: One bank account linked to an accused surfaced in 31 separate cases; another account appeared in 10 cases nationwide, underscoring the scale of interlinked financial conduits.

Officials said probes are continuing to identify other members of the network and to track the movement of funds across bank accounts.

Inside the trading scam

Investigators described a familiar playbook behind the ₹51.65 lakh trading-fraud case. A victim was first contacted on an online chat platform by someone posing as a trading advisor. The conversation soon moved to encrypted messaging apps, and the individual was directed to a counterfeit trading website. The site showed fabricated account dashboards and inflated returns to build trust. As the interaction progressed, the victim faced repeated demands framed as compliance or upgrade requirements — including alleged tax payments, supposed central bank charges, and “VIP” account fees — to unlock or withdraw the displayed profits.

The case also highlighted the use of “mule” infrastructure. According to police, individuals knowingly supplied bank accounts, ATM cards, passbooks, and mobile numbers to the fraudsters in exchange for commissions. This layered approach makes it harder to trace and freeze funds once they leave the victim’s account, and allows the same conduits to support multiple frauds at once.

Other fraud patterns flagged

While trading-linked cons dominated the week’s detections, police also reported: - Digital arrest fraud: Scammers impersonate officials to coerce victims into paying under the threat of legal action or detention. - Cheating by impersonation: Criminals pose as bank staff, company employees, or regulators to extract information or money. - Job and part-time work scams: Fraudsters lure victims with easy earnings, then demand upfront fees or extract sensitive data.

These schemes typically rely on social media and messaging apps for outreach and on rapid payments via digital channels, making swift reporting essential.

Networked accounts and money mules

The discovery of accounts linked to dozens of cases points to a distributed, service-like layer that supports fraud operations. Accounts are cycled across scams, funnelling deposits from victims before distributions to other nodes. Such networks can span multiple States, complicating jurisdiction and response times.

Disrupting these flows requires coordinated action: early victim reporting to enable freezes, rapid inter-bank communication, and court orders to return funds. The court-backed refunds — 370 orders across 113 cases — illustrate how legal pathways can reverse some losses when money is traced quickly enough.

Victim redress and how to report

The Cyberabad police urged residents to prioritize rapid reporting, which increases the chance of freezing transfers before funds are layered through multiple accounts. Citizens can: - Call the national helpline 1930 to report cyber fraud immediately. - File complaints via the portal www.cybercrime.gov.in with transaction details and supporting evidence.

Timely complaints, precise transaction timestamps, and accurate account numbers help investigators place holds and seek court directions for refunds.

Safety checklist for citizens

  • Be skeptical of unsolicited investment tips on chat platforms or messaging apps.
  • Avoid migrating conversations to private channels when approached by strangers offering quick returns or jobs.
  • Do not share Aadhaar, bank credentials, one-time passwords, or copies of personal documents with unverified contacts.
  • Verify any platform’s registration, compliance, and withdrawal history independently; treat “guaranteed” returns as a red flag.
  • If pressured to pay fees for tax clearance, regulatory charges, or account upgrades, stop and verify with trusted sources.
  • Report suspicious links, groups, or accounts promptly to 1930 or via the cybercrime portal.

Why it matters

Hyderabad’s role as a tech and financial services hub makes its residents prime targets for sophisticated online frauds that exploit trust, speed, and the ease of digital payments. The latest operation shows two critical levers: dismantling mule account networks that enable repeat victimization, and using court mechanisms to return money at scale. Sustained public awareness and quick reporting remain essential to reduce losses.

What’s next

Police said investigations are ongoing to trace additional suspects tied to the trading-fraud ring and related cases. Expect continued focus on mule-account suppliers and tighter scrutiny of high-risk accounts that appear across multiple complaints. For citizens, the most effective countermeasure remains early, accurate reporting — the window to freeze and refund funds narrows rapidly once money begins to move.