Hyderabad, Mar 12 (TNT): The Cyber Crime Police Station, Hyderabad City, registered 78 FIRs in February 2026 month alone and arrested 117 individuals from 16 states in connection with 74 cases during a special operation named “Operation Octopus,” police officials said on Thursday.
The cases included trading and investment fraud (63), digital arrest scams (6), OTP fraud (4), and social media-related crimes (1), said M. Srinivasulu, Additional Commissioner of Police, Crimes & SIT, Hyderabad City in a release here.
A total amount of Rs. 34,76,884 was successfully refunded to victims.
The arrested individuals were linked to 1,081 cases across India, with bank transactions amounting to approximately Rs. 139 crores.
During the month, police seized cash worth Rs. 36 lakh, 221 mobile phones, 26 laptops, 141 SIM cards, 115 cheque books, and other evidence.
Cyber patrol teams identified 124 social media profiles running 539 paid ads promoting online gaming and betting apps, which were subsequently taken down.
Major cases included a matrimonial investment scam in which a Hyderabad resident lost Rs. 11.17 lakh to a fake UK-based crypto trader.
Pedapudi Prasanna Kumar was arrested at Chennai Airport in connection with the case.
In another case, a businessman lost 100,000 USDT (around Rs. 91.5 lakh) in a cryptocurrency fraud, leading to the arrest of three operators from Pune, Jaipur, and Hyderabad.
Cyber Crime officials urged the public to exercise caution against fake profiles, phishing links, malicious APKs, online betting, and AI-generated scams. Immediate reporting can help recover lost funds.
Helpline: 1930 | Online Reporting: www.cybercrime.gov.in.
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