Hyderabad: Fake Phone Pay scams in Hyderabad livestock markets prompted Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar to warn traders against fraudulent digital payment transactions ahead of Bakrid.
As Bakrid approaches, sheep and goat markets across the city have become crowded with buyers and traders. However, fraudsters allegedly exploited the rush and targeted livestock sellers using fake mobile payment applications.
According to Sajjanar, cyber fraudsters created duplicate payment apps resembling genuine digital platforms such as PhonePe. The accused reportedly showed fake payment confirmation screens and false receipts to convince traders that payments had been completed.
Police said many traders failed to immediately verify whether money had actually reached their bank accounts due to heavy activity and confusion at the markets.
Fake Phone Pay scams reported in Hyderabad markets
Two major cheating incidents recently surfaced under the limits of Kanchanbagh and Rajendranagar police stations in Hyderabad Commissionerate.
In the Kanchanbagh case, six persons arrived on three motorcycles and struck a deal with a trader before allegedly cheating him of Rs 68,000 using a fake payment application.
Similarly, four persons in Rajendranagar allegedly took away sheep worth Rs 48,000 after displaying a fake digital payment confirmation screen.
Victims later checked their bank accounts and realised the amounts had not been credited. Subsequently, they approached police and lodged complaints.
Sajjanar urged sheep and goat traders to remain highly alert while accepting online payments. He advised traders not to trust screenshots or “payment successful” messages shown on buyers’ mobile phones.
The police commissioner asked traders to verify transactions only through official bank SMS alerts or by directly checking their bank balance through authorised banking applications.
He further stated that cash transactions would be safer for high-value deals wherever possible. Sajjanar also appealed to traders to immediately call Dial 100 and inform police if they noticed suspicious behaviour or attempted fraud.