Hyderabad cyber cells register 393 FIRs, arrest 18 persons in October
Hyderabad, Nov 4 (TNT) : The Zonal Cyber Cells in Hyderabad registered 393 FIRs and arrested 18 persons in 14 cases during October, besides securing refunds of Rs 25.96 lakh to cyber fraud victims, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes and SIT) M. Srinivasulu said on Wednesday.
In a press release, he said the Zonal Cyber Cells received 2,649 complaints through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) during the month.
Under the C-Mitra initiative, police made 2,156 calls to victims to provide guidance and assistance, while 370 Zero FIRs were registered based on complaints received.
As part of cyber patrol enforcement, the Cyber Crime Unit identified 101 Facebook and Instagram profiles operating 28 paid advertisements promoting objectionable content involving minors, fraudulent coin and currency sales, misleading betting predictions, guaranteed winnings, matrimonial services, private video calls and fake job opportunities.
All the 101 profiles were reported to the respective social media platforms and taken down. The cyber patrol initiative has so far resulted in the removal of 1,558 social media profiles and 2,631 paid promotional advertisements linked to online gaming, illegal betting and fake investment websites.
Ten FIRs were also registered against their promoters.
In a major case, police arrested a 26-year-old man from Palakollu in Andhra Pradesh in connection with a honey-trap fraud in which a 70-year-old retired employee from Hyderabad was allegedly cheated of Rs 38 lakh.
The victim had received a Facebook friend request from a woman, who gradually gained his confidence and obtained money from him on the pretext of household needs.
Subsequently, the woman and another person allegedly threatened to implicate him in criminal cases by making allegations of sexual abuse and extorted Rs 38 lakh, police said.
The accused was arrested and two mobile phones were seized.
Srinivasulu advised people to remain cautious against fake profiles of senior government officials, fraudulent investment groups, malicious APK files, WhatsApp impersonation, honey traps and digital arrest scams.
He urged victims of cyber fraud to immediately contact the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or report incidents through www\.cybercrime.gov.in to facilitate freezing and recovery of the defrauded money.
TNT TS
