Hyderabad: City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, issued a strong warning against cybercrime on Saturday, calling it a threat to both financial and mental well-being.
Educated citizens among top targets in digital scams
Speaking at a cybercrime awareness seminar under the ‘Jagruth Hyderabad – Surakshith Hyderabad’ campaign, Sajjanar said cybercriminals are not just draining bank accounts but also wrecking lives. He said victims often suffer long-term trauma from financial and emotional loss.
The event was held at PSR Sloka Convention Hall in the Adibatla police limits.
The Commissioner said that fraudsters are increasingly targeting educated individuals by displaying fake SEBI certificates and luring them into high-return trading schemes. He noted that Hyderabad residents are losing about ₹1 crore every day to cyber scams.
He specifically warned against investment frauds linked to gold and silver price fluctuations, malicious APK files, OTP scams, and misuse of personal data shared on social media.
Sajjanar also highlighted the rise in “Digital Arrest” scams where fraudsters impersonate police officers via video calls to extort money. “No police or government agency conducts arrests over the phone,” he clarified.
He cautioned against predatory loan apps, which offer low-interest loans and later harass borrowers.
Call 1930 within ‘Golden Hour’ for cybercrime reporting
The Commissioner urged the public to report any cyber fraud immediately by calling the helpline 1930. Timely reporting during the ‘Golden Hour’ greatly improves the chance of freezing stolen funds.
Senior officials including Additional CP (Law & Order) South Range Tafseer Iqubal, IPS, Shamshabad DCP B. Rajesh, Cyber Crime DCP V. Arvind Babu, Shamshabad ACP Srikant Goud, and Adibatla ACP Pradeep Kumar Reddy were present at the event.