Hyderabad Police Warns Public Against Cyber Frauds Targeting Indiramma Towers Beneficiaries
Hyderabad, July 26 (TNT): Hyderabad City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, IPS, on Sunday cautioned the public against potential cyber frauds being carried out in the name of house allotments under the government’s ‘Indiramma Towers’ scheme.
In a statement, the Commissioner said that with the commencement of the ₹10,000 Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) payment process for beneficiaries, cybercriminals may attempt to cheat applicants through fake phone calls, fraudulent links and impersonation of government officials.
He clarified that there is ‘ no role for brokers or middlemen ‘ in the scheme and that the selection process is being carried out in a completely transparent manner.
He assured that the EMD amount paid by applicants would remain secure and, in cases where a house is not allotted, the amount would be refunded directly to the applicant’s original bank account.
Sajjanar warned people against individuals making false promises such as “pay money and we will ensure a house allotment”.
He said fraudsters often create urgency by claiming, “today is the last date; pay immediately or your house will be cancelled,” to pressure people into making quick payments.
The Commissioner cautioned beneficiaries against clicking on unknown links received through WhatsApp or SMS, as downloading APK files from such sources could lead to phone hacking and financial losses.
He also warned that cybercriminals may create fake websites resembling official government portals to collect personal and banking information.
He further advised people not to install screen-sharing applications such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer on the instructions of unknown persons, as such apps can be misused to steal banking credentials.
He reminded citizens that a UPI PIN is required only while making payments and is never needed to receive refunds.
The public was advised not to share sensitive information such as Aadhaar details, bank account information or OTPs with unknown individuals.
For queries related to the scheme, beneficiaries can contact the dedicated helpline number 040-24603572.
In case of cyber fraud, victims should immediately call the toll-free cybercrime helpline 1930 or lodge a complaint through www.cybercrime.gov.in to enable timely action and fund recovery.
TNT TS
