Hyderabad cybercrime crackdown removes illegal betting ads, arrests fraud accused
Hyderabad: Police launched a Hyderabad cybercrime crackdown and removed 124 social media accounts promoting illegal online betting apps through paid advertisements.
Cyber crime police said the accounts ran 539 advertisements on Facebook and Instagram targeting Indian users.
Investigators said these ads promised quick money, bonuses and referral commissions.
According to police, the campaigns mainly targeted youngsters and attempted to lure them into unlawful betting activities.
Authorities reported all the identified accounts and secured their removal.
Meanwhile, police began efforts to trace the operators behind the accounts as part of the Hyderabad cybercrime crackdown.
Hyderabad cybercrime crackdown leads to matrimonial crypto scam arrest
In a separate development during the Hyderabad cybercrime crackdown, police arrested a man involved in a matrimonial-cum-crypto investment fraud.
The accused allegedly cheated a Hyderabad resident of more than Rs.11 lakh.
Investigators said the victim met a woman through the matrimonial website Shaadi.com.
The woman claimed to be a UK-based engineer and convinced the victim to invest in a cryptocurrency platform called “Bakktcoin”.
Police later arrested Pedapudi Prasanna Kumar at Chennai International Airport after he returned from Cambodia.
Investigators said he used nearly 1,000 SIM cards to create fake WhatsApp and matrimonial profiles to target victims.
Police seized two mobile phones from the accused during the operation.
Hyderabad cybercrime crackdown exposes crypto wallet fraud
Police also arrested three persons in a separate cryptocurrency fraud case during the Hyderabad cybercrime crackdown.
The case involved a businessman from Hyderabad who lost about Rs.91.5 lakh.
Investigators said fraudsters tricked the victim into completing a fake KYC process on a fraudulent website.
After obtaining access, the accused misused the crypto wallet approval and siphoned off 100,000 USDT.
Police arrested Sushim Shripati Gaikwad, Lucky Choudhary and Bairoju Srikanth in connection with the fraud.
During the investigation, officers seized two mobile phones and a laptop linked to the crime.