Cybercrime unit thwarts ‘digital arrest’ scam, saves ₹18 lakh in Nalgonda
NALGONDA: The District Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (D4C) of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) prevented a digital arrest fraud and saved ₹18 lakh belonging to a retired school teacher in Nalgonda district.
Fraudsters posed as CBI officers, applied pressure
Police said the victim, P. Devender Reddy, who retired a year ago, had deposited his retirement benefits in his bank account. For three days, cyber fraudsters posing as Central Bureau of Investigation officials allegedly pressured him, claiming his Aadhaar number was linked to a case involving circulation of obscene content on social media.
They threatened him with a so-called “digital arrest” and coerced him to urgently transfer ₹18 lakh to close the alleged case.
Bank alert leads to swift intervention
On December 19, 2025, around 12.00 IST, the victim and his wife visited the State Bank of India’s Prakasham Bazar branch in Nalgonda to transfer the amount. Noticing the victim’s anxiety and urgency, the branch manager alerted the Deputy Superintendent of Police, D4C, Nalgonda.
Acting on the alert, the DSP and D4C staff reached the bank and temporarily halted the transaction. After an enquiry, the team identified it as a digital arrest scam and counselled the family, explaining that no police or government agency conducts digital arrests or seeks money over phone calls.
Probe launched; officials appreciated
Police said the timely coordination between D4C Nalgonda and bank officials stopped the fraudulent transfer, saving the entire ₹18 lakh, which comprised the victim’s retirement benefits.
Cyber Crime Police have begun technical analysis to trace the fraudsters by examining digital footprints, call records and linked accounts. The Director, TGCSB, appreciated the prompt response of D4C officers T. Laxminarayana, Vishnu and Riyazuddin, and the role of the SBI branch manager in preventing the fraud.
The Cyber Crime Police urged citizens to stay vigilant, reiterating that no law enforcement agency demands money online or over calls. Citizens can report such incidents by dialling 1930 or visiting the national cybercrime portal.
