Hyderabad retiree loses Rs. 1,39,895 in cyber fraud via fake bank call
Hyderabad: A 52-year-old retired male from Hyderabad fell victim to cyber fraud, losing Rs. 1,39,895 on June 25 (Tuesday).
According to Cybercrime officials, the victim possesses four credit cards, including one issued by HDFC Bank. The victim received a call from someone posing as a bank officer from a toll-free number. The fraudster claimed to represent the victim’s bank and requested One Time Passwords (OTPs) to verify supposed transactions. Believing the call to be genuine, the victim unwittingly provided the OTPs on three separate occasions. Consequently, three transactions totaling Rs. 1,39,895 were processed from the victim’s account.
Upon discovering the unauthorized transactions, the victim promptly contacted his bank and reported the incident. The bank assured him that they would thoroughly investigate the matter. The victim urged that necessary action be taken in response.
In recent incidents in Hyderabad, individuals have fallen victim to various scams, highlighting the growing threat of online fraud. A 31-year-old medical professional from Secunderabad was targeted by an advanced cyber fraud scheme. The targeted person received a phone call from an individual claiming to be from FedEx, alleging that an illegal package had been shipped from Mumbai to Iran.
In another incident, a 27-year-old female private employee from Hyderabad fell victim to a scam while seeking a match on Shaadi.com.
Additionally, a 44-year-old housewife residing in Hyderabad has been defrauded of Rs. 21,73,000 in an online scam conducted through the messaging app Telegram. The victim, whose identity remains confidential, fell prey to the fraudulent scheme after receiving messages from accounts identified as @PUYFU63, @JollyBiswas269, and @Joyless.
In another case, a man was cheated by the NoBroker website, which failed to transfer his Rs. 45,000 token payment intended for purchasing a property.
Cybercrime officials continue to investigate these incidents, and the public and victims of online fraud are encouraged to report promptly to the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in for assistance.
CM Revanth Reddy reorganizes disaster management for Greater Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign critical responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department within Greater Hyderabad. He has directed officials to implement structural changes and redistribute responsibilities accordingly. In a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday evening, the Chief Minister discussed the reorganization with officials from Municipal Administration, HMDA, and Musi Development.
Expansion of disaster management responsibilities
Recognizing the geographic expansion of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered the Disaster Management Department to extend its jurisdiction to the Outer Ring Road. He suggested including GHMC, 27 surrounding municipalities and corporations, and 33 gram panchayats within its service area. The department will be renamed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection (HYDRA). The Chief Minister proposed appointing a DIG-level officer as the director and SP-level officers as additional directors. He also recommended special teams from GHMC, HMDA, the Water Board, city traffic, and other departments to join this new division.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Disaster Management Department to offer continuous services to city residents, not just during floods or emergencies. HYDRA should actively address all issues faced by Hyderabad’s citizens, including preserving the city’s tanks and ponds, protecting government properties from encroachments, and managing hoardings and flex banners. Additionally, HYDRA will oversee water pipelines, electricity supply lines, drainage, flood management, and traffic control.
Focus on heritage and infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Reddy directed the acceleration of the Musi River Development Project, aiming to elevate Hyderabad’s international reputation. He stressed the importance of working towards the government’s goal of transforming this project into a landmark. He also ordered officials to take necessary actions to restore historical buildings and structures within the city. The GHMC presented a PowerPoint on various heritage sites, such as the City Library, Charminar Ayurvedic Hospital, and Nizamia Observatory etc. The Chief Minister encouraged exploring ways to develop these sites for tourism and integrating feasible ones into the Musi River Development Project.
The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Shantikumar to draft a comprehensive reorganization plan, including staffing, duties, and budget allocations for HYDRA. He also emphasized identifying key areas where the Disaster Management Department can enhance its operations.
The meeting included Chief Secretary Shantikumar, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Danakishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC Vigilance Disaster Management Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, and Hyderabad Water Board MD Ashok Reddy.
