Hyderabad authorities warn of rising digital and hybrid cyber fraud

Authorities in Hyderabad are warning citizens against evolving cybercrime tactics following several significant incidents. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) successfully recovered Rs 85.20 lakh for an 85-year-old retired bank employee who fell victim to a ‘digital arrest’ scam. In this instance, a fraudster impersonating a National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer used video calls and a fake uniform to falsely claim the victim’s Aadhaar details were linked to fraudulent transactions. The victim was coerced into transferring the funds under the guise of an RBI verification process.

Separately, the Hyderabad City Police issued an advisory regarding ‘Hybrid Cyber Fraud,’ a method that combines physical theft with digital crime. In these schemes, criminals use shoulder-surfing to observe screen-lock PINs in crowded areas like buses or railway platforms before stealing the device. They may also stage social engineering dramas by posing as bus conductors or good Samaritans when a victim calls their lost phone. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Wing has already arrested three members of an interstate syndicate linked to these operations.