Telangana Cyber Security Bureau Arrests 27 in Major Cyber Fraud Operation

The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has carried out a significant crackdown on cybercrime, arresting 27 individuals involved in a vast inter-state racket. The operation, conducted in the Rajasthan districts of Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Nagpur, uncovered a group of cybercriminals linked to over 2,000 fraud cases across the country, with 189 of these cases occurring in Telangana alone. The cybercrime racket involved suspicious financial transactions amounting to ₹11.01 crore, with ₹ nine crore stolen from various victims in Telangana.

The TGCSB's special operations wing, which was recently established to handle centralized, large-scale interstate cybercrime, led the 15-day operation. Four special teams of TGCSB, supported by real-time technical assistance from their headquarters, camped in Rajasthan and conducted raids across three locations. The teams successfully apprehended the fraudsters involved in illegal business and investment schemes, bank frauds, and other cybercrimes. Among those arrested were business people, students, contractors, and individuals working in the private sector.

Authorities seized various materials from the arrested individuals, including 31 mobile phones, 37 SIM cards, 13 ATM cards, seven checkbooks, two hard disks, and other documents linked to the fraudulent operations. The 27 individuals were brought to Hyderabad under transit warrants and produced before the court, which remanded them into judicial custody.

The investigation was initiated by tracking suspicious bank accounts where funds extorted from victims were deposited. The cybercriminals were found to have opened and operated 29 mule accounts through which they laundered money. They paid commissions to account holders on every transaction. Among the arrested individuals, Luckan Arora and Om Harisharanam were particularly prominent, linked to 194 and 177 cyber fraud cases, respectively.

The investigation also uncovered links to foreign cybercrime networks, particularly from the Golden Triangle region, which includes Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. These foreign cybercrime gangs are believed to lure Indian youths with job offers and then coerce them into participating in cyber fraud. The stolen money was often converted into cryptocurrency and transferred abroad, with Chinese networks also believed to be involved.

TGCSB Director Sikha Goel highlighted the role of advanced coordination and real-time technical support in tracking and apprehending criminals. She urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid trusting unsolicited phone calls offering investment opportunities or online advertisements. Goel advised victims of cyber fraud to report incidents within 24 hours by calling 1930 or submitting complaints to cybercrime.gov.in, emphasizing that reporting quickly could improve the chances of recovering lost funds.

The operation also identified 33 additional cyber criminals, and the TGCSB is continuing its efforts to arrest them. Investigators are probing the possible involvement of bank officials in enabling the operation of mule accounts and ensuring that proper legal action will be taken if any collaboration is discovered.

This successful operation marks a critical step in the TGCSB's fight against cybercrime, particularly in tracking down cybercriminals across state borders. The seizure of large sums of money, bank accounts, and communication devices highlights the organized and large-scale nature of the cyber fraud racket, with criminals targeting unsuspecting victims across India.