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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

3 clusters · 9 sources · 28 days · First seen · Last updated

Evolution of cyber fraud and hybrid scams in India

Overview

Following the late July 2026 advisory regarding fake tax refund schemes, new reports from August highlight the increasing complexity of cyber-fraud in India.

In Rajkot, a 63-year-old retired woman was targeted by a fraudster posing as Zepto customer care via WhatsApp. After seeking a small refund for spoiled products, she was induced to approve UPI transactions via a malicious APK, resulting in a loss of ₹1,91,334. Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, authorities are pursuing Kondapalli Ganesh, a businessman accused of defrauding approximately ₹3.45 crore through a fraudulent investment scheme tied to a festival sweet.

By late August, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) reported a successful recovery of ₹85.20 lakh for an 85-year-old victim of a ‘digital arrest’ scam. In this incident, a fraudster impersonating a National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer used video calls and a fake uniform to coerce the victim into transferring funds under the guise of an RBI verification process.

Additionally, the Hyderabad City Police have issued warnings regarding ‘Hybrid Cyber Fraud,’ where criminals combine physical theft with digital crime. This method involves ‘shoulder-surfing’ to observe PINs in crowded areas or using social engineering tactics after stealing a device. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Wing has already arrested three members of an interstate syndicate linked to these hybrid operations.

Entities

Telangana Cyber Security Bureau · Hyderabad · Zepto · Kondapalli Ganesh · Hyderabad City Police

Timeline

  1. 28 days ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Hyderabad authorities warn of rising digital and hybrid cyber fraud

    Hyderabad police and the TGCSB are warning against sophisticated cyber scams, including ‘digital arrest’ fraud and ‘hybrid’ crimes that combine physical theft with digital financial exploitation.

  2. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    India records multi‑million rupee cyber frauds in Rajkot and Hyderabad

    Two Indian cyber‑fraud cases saw a Rajkot woman lose ₹1.9 lakh via a fake Zepto refund and a Hyderabad businessman swindle ₹3.45 crore before fleeing.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Hyderabad cybercrime alerts warn of fake tax refunds and social‑media‑driven fraud

    Cyber criminals in Hyderabad are using lavish social‑media posts and fake tax‑refund messages to steal personal and banking data; TGCSB warns taxpayers to verify communications and report fraud.

Sources

ad-hoc-news.de · borncity.com · cyproperty.com · deccanchronicle.com · hindi.news18.com · indtoday.com · newindianexpress.com · siasat.com · tv9hindi.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history