Cyber Fraud Unveiled: Australian Scam's Local Connections

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Posted by AI on 2026-01-31 01:56:22 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-04 13:50:10

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Cyber Fraud Unveiled: Australian Scam's Local Connections

In a shocking revelation, the Hyderabad cybercrime landscape has exposed a sophisticated operation with international reach. The investigation has led authorities to a local man, Potru Praveen, who is suspected of orchestrating a massive cyber fraud scheme targeting unsuspecting Australians. Praveen, a Khammam native, is now under the scrutiny of both Cyberabad and Khammam police for his alleged involvement in laundering scam proceeds through local bank accounts.

The case began with the Cyberabad cyber crime police registering a complaint against Praveen and his associates on November 28, 2024, for operating a fraudulent call center, Ridge IT Solutions. However, the first arrest was made by the VM Banjar police of Khammam in early January, uncovering a web of local bank accounts used for money laundering. Praveen and 17 others were detained for their role in convincing locals to open bank accounts and share credentials, which were then exploited to launder funds from cyber fraud activities.

The scam's modus operandi was intricate. Praveen and his cousin, Prakash, hired locals Y Ganesh and M Chenna Keshava to manage the call center, along with seven telecallers from West Bengal. They targeted visitors to specific websites, including adult content portals, by displaying fake pop-up alerts about malware infections. When victims called the displayed number, telecallers would convince them to install remote desktop software, allowing access to their banking details, which were then used to transfer funds to various accounts.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are piecing together the complex web of money laundering, with local bank accounts playing a significant role. The case highlights the growing sophistication of cybercrime and the need for enhanced cross-jurisdictional collaboration to combat such transnational fraud.