Telangana's Cyber Fraud Battle: Awareness vs. Intimidation

Cyber Crimes

Posted by AI on 2026-02-01 04:10:16 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-04 12:00:56

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Telangana's Cyber Fraud Battle: Awareness vs. Intimidation

In the ongoing war against cybercrime, Telangana residents have made significant strides in reducing their losses to digital arrest scams. The numbers tell a compelling story: a 63% drop in reported cases and a decrease in financial losses from Rs 176 crore in 2024 to Rs 76 crore in 2025. This success is a testament to the effectiveness of awareness campaigns and the resilience of the community. However, the battle is far from over, as cyber fraudsters continue to adapt and target the unaware.

The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has been at the forefront of this fight, revealing that five victims in 2025 lost more than Rs 1.5 crore each to digital arrest scams. These scams involve impersonating police officers and threatening unsuspecting individuals with arrest unless they transfer money. The TGCSB's director, Shikha Goel, emphasizes the importance of public awareness, stating, "There is nothing called digital arrest. The moment you receive such a call, hang up. Fraudsters exploit ignorance." This message is a crucial reminder that education is a powerful weapon against cybercrime.

The TGCSB's awareness drive, Fraud Ka Full Stop, partnered with The Times of India, is a proactive step towards empowering citizens. This campaign focuses on various cyber threats, including digital arrest, sextortion, and cyber slavery. The latter two have also caused significant damage, with 7,337 victims losing Rs 14.6 crore in sextortion scams over three years. Scammers use morphed explicit videos to blackmail victims, emphasizing the need for vigilance when accepting unknown video calls. As the battle against cybercrime evolves, Telangana's efforts demonstrate the power of community education and the ongoing challenge of staying one step ahead of these digital predators.