Seven held as cybercrime police detect six fraud cases in a week

Seven individuals involved in six cyber crime cases across India were arrested by the cyber crime wing of the Malkajgiri police during the week long drive between January 18 and January 24. The police also processed court-approved refund orders, enabling the return of ₹27.36 lakh to victims of cyber fraud.

The arrests uncovered a pan-India network of fraudsters operating through investment, matrimony and part-time job scams

In the first case, cybercrime police arrested one Vattikuti Papaiah in an investment fraud case and remanded him to judicial custody. During the investigation, three persons were apprehended in Suryapet for supporting the fraud by providing mule bank accounts. The accused allegedly lured victims through fake trading advertisements on Telegram before shifting them to WhatsApp groups, where they posed as investment experts and assistants. Victims were made to download forged trading and crypto wallet applications that displayed manipulated profits. When withdrawal requests were raised, victims were asked to pay false charges, while the money was layered through shell companies to conceal the proceeds of crime.

In the second case, the investigating officer arrested one Pendem Vamshi Mandava Nageshwara Rao for operating mule bank accounts linked to an investment fraud. The fraud proceeds were traced to Suryapet, where the accused were apprehended. Investigators found that victims were targeted using fake AI-based investment advertisements impersonating reputed trading platforms. Victims were shown fabricated profits to induce further investments, with the total amount cheated estimated at ₹70.09 lakh.

The third case involved a matrimony-cum-investment fraud, in which one Chattu Koteswara Rao was arrested for acting as a mule account holder. Police said the victim was lured through a fake profile on a matrimonial website and later contacted through WhatsApp. The victim was persuaded to invest in cryptocurrency through Binance and decentralised exchange platforms, resulting in a loss of ₹59.25 lakh. The fraud amount was traced to Suryapet, leading to the arrest.

In the fourth case, one Mohammad Mustafa Arif Malbari was arrested in a part-time job fraud after investigators traced the fraud proceeds to Thane in Maharashtra. The accused allegedly provided bank accounts to transfer the proceeds of the crime. The victim was lured through Telegram with fake product-matching job offers, initially receiving small credits to build trust before being induced to invest larger sums. The total loss in the case was ₹12.90 lakh.

In the fifth case, one Talari Vidya Sagar was arrested after cybercrime police traced fraud proceeds to Sangareddy district. The accused supported a digital arrest fraud by providing bank accounts and transferring funds. The victim was threatened by fraudsters posing as telecom and police officials and coerced into sharing personal and banking details. Multiple transfers were made under psychological pressure, resulting in a loss of ₹46.74 lakh.

The sixth case involved the arrest of one Thirumani Bharath Kumar in an online investment fraud after funds were traced to Hyderabad. Police said the accused acted as a mule account holder, providing bank accounts to fraudsters who lured victims through WhatsApp and fake investment websites. Victims were shown manipulated profits and repeatedly induced to deposit money, with funds layered through multiple accounts.