Telangana cyber fraud losses driven by investment scams

Investment and stock-market scams account for nearly 60% of cybercrime-related financial losses in Telangana, according to Shikha Goel, Director of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB).

Speaking at a cybersecurity symposium in Hyderabad, Goel noted that cybercrime networks have become highly organized, with many operations managed from abroad in countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia. These syndicates utilize sophisticated call centers and exploit human emotions—including trust, fear, greed, and urgency—to manipulate victims into transferring funds.

The complexity of these operations, which span multiple time zones and geographic locations, presents significant challenges for investigators attempting to reach the masterminds. Despite these challenges, the Telangana Cyber Police reported recovering Rs 455 crore lost to cyber fraudsters over the past two years.