Cybercrime
Cyberabad Police Warns of Fake Social Media Profiles Used for Financial Fraud; Issues Comprehensive Do’s and Don’ts
Cyberabad Police have issued a public advisory warning residents about an alarming surge in fake social media profiles targeting citizens for financial fraud. Fraudsters are reportedly impersonating police officers, bankers, and government officials on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp, using stolen photos, names, and official logos to dupe victims.
The advisory follows a sharp rise in impersonation scams across Hyderabad’s suburbs, where victims have lost crores of rupees to urgent-money requests from cloned profiles.
How the Scams Work
According to the Cyberabad Cyber Crime Wing, scammers create highly convincing profiles, often mimicking verified accounts and official handles. They then solicit urgent financial help, typically via digital payment apps like GPay or PhonePe. Common tactics include messages claiming, “I’m stuck, please send Rs 5,000 immediately,” sent by profiles mimicking senior police officials or bank managers.
Victims are often drawn in with small initial transfers, which escalate into demands for “legal fees” or “family emergencies.” Increasingly, deepfake videos and audio recordings are being used to make these impersonations appear authentic. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows impersonation scams in Telangana rose by 300% in 2025, resulting in losses of around ₹150 crore.
Cyberabad Police Guidelines: Do’s and Don’ts
Critical Don’ts:
- Do not respond to social media messages requesting money or assistance from officials.
- Avoid accepting friend requests from suspicious or duplicate profiles.
- Never share OTPs, CVV codes, bank details, or Aadhaar information.
- Do not click links in unsolicited urgent messages.
Essential Do’s:
- Verify blue tick or official verified accounts before taking action.
- Call official numbers directly instead of responding to social media messages.
- Report or block fake profiles immediately on the platform.
- Contact the 1930 helpline or visit cybercrime.gov.in for reporting scams.
Cyberabad’s Social Media Monitoring Cell (SMMC) coordinates takedowns, with platforms mandated to suspend approximately 24,000 fake accounts monthly under the IT Rules, 2021.
Context: Hyderabad’s Impersonation Crisis
The advisory highlights a broader issue: social engineering scams account for nearly 40% of financial fraud in Cyberabad, including Rachakonda and Sangareddy districts. Authorities have recently uncovered Cambodia-based call centers cloning bank profiles for UPI scams. National I4C data indicates that 70% of financial fraud in India originates from fake social media accounts, with Telangana leading South India with over 15,000 monthly takedowns.
Enforcement Measures and Technology Interventions
Cyberabad Police use AI-based monitoring tools to detect more than 500 fake profiles daily, while platforms like Facebook and Instagram reportedly remove 90% within hours. Public awareness campaigns, including WhatsApp broadcasts, have reached over 2 million residents. FIRs are filed under relevant IPC and IT Act sections, with 50 arrests recorded in the first quarter of 2026 alone.
Security Tips for Users:
- Keep social media accounts private and restrict friend lists.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and audit connected apps.
- Avoid posting selfies in uniforms; watermark photos where possible.
- Report suspicious activity via platform tools and police portals.
Cybercrime
Faridabad Police Arrest Account Holder in Stock Investment Fraud
Faridabad cyber police have arrested a man from Ludhiana in Punjab in connection with a large-scale online investment fraud case involving alleged losses of nearly ₹73.97 lakh. The accused is suspected of facilitating the movement of fraudulent funds collected through fake stock market investment schemes operated via social media platforms.
Authorities say the arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into a wider cyber fraud network that targeted victims with promises of high returns through stock trading and pre-IPO investment opportunities.
Victim Lured Through WhatsApp Investment Group
According to police officials, the victim—a resident of Sector 86 in Faridabad—was first contacted through a WhatsApp message containing a link to an investment group. After joining the group, the victim was repeatedly persuaded by fraudsters to invest in stock market schemes promising unusually high profits.
Investigators said the scammers presented themselves as investment advisors and encouraged the victim to transfer money in multiple installments to different bank accounts.
Over time, the victim transferred a total of ₹73,97,600, but no returns were ever provided. When withdrawal attempts failed and communication stopped, the victim reported the matter to cyber police.
Investigation Traces Funds to Firm Account in Ludhiana
During the financial investigation, police traced part of the defrauded money to a business account linked to a transport firm named Janata Trans Co. in Ludhiana.
Authorities identified the account holder as Hansraj Goyal, who was arrested from the Transport Nagar area in Ludhiana. Police said approximately ₹7 lakh from the fraudulent proceeds had been routed through the firm’s bank account.
Investigators believe the account was used as a “mule account” to channel scam proceeds, a common tactic in online financial fraud cases where multiple accounts are used to obscure money trails.
Arrest and Custody for Further Investigation
Following his arrest, the accused was produced before a local court and has been remanded to police custody for further interrogation.
Cyber police officials stated that questioning will focus on identifying:
- Other individuals involved in the fraud network
- Additional bank accounts used to route stolen funds
- Possible links to larger interstate cybercrime operations
Authorities are also working to trace the remaining diverted funds and determine how they were distributed across multiple accounts.
Growing Trend of Online Investment Scams
Officials noted that the case reflects a rising pattern of cyber frauds across India involving fake investment schemes promoted through messaging apps and social media platforms.
In such scams, victims are typically added to WhatsApp or Telegram groups where fraudsters:
- Pose as financial advisors or trading experts
- Promote stock trading or pre-IPO investment opportunities
- Display fake profit screenshots to build trust
- Pressure victims into making repeated deposits
Once significant funds are collected, the scammers either disappear or block access to withdrawal channels.
Conclusion
The Faridabad case highlights the increasing use of digital platforms in financial fraud and the role of intermediary bank accounts in laundering illicit funds. As investigations continue, cyber police are expected to uncover additional links within the wider network responsible for orchestrating the scam.
Authorities have once again urged citizens to exercise caution when responding to unsolicited investment offers received through social media or messaging apps.
Cybercrime
Labour Room Privacy Breach Case Expands Into Major Footage Sale Network
A disturbing hospital privacy breach in Gujarat has expanded into a major cybercrime investigation, after authorities uncovered an alleged interstate network involved in hacking CCTV systems, recording sensitive medical footage, and distributing it through encrypted online platforms for profit.
The case, which initially involved a viral clip from a maternity hospital in Rajkot, has now revealed a broader operation spanning multiple Indian states and international digital channels, with investigators describing it as a coordinated illegal surveillance footage marketplace.
Viral Labour Room Video Triggers Cybercrime Investigation
The incident first came to light on February 17, 2025, when a sensitive video recorded inside a labour room at a maternity hospital in Rajkot surfaced on social media. The clip reportedly showed a healthcare worker attending to a female patient, sparking immediate public concern over patient privacy violations.
Following the emergence of the footage, the Ahmedabad City Cybercrime Branch registered a case and launched a detailed investigation into how restricted CCTV recordings from a medical facility were accessed and circulated online.
Hacked Hospital CCTV System Suspected
Early findings indicated that multiple videos originating from hospital surveillance systems had been leaked. Investigators soon discovered that the breach was not limited to a single incident, but part of a wider pattern involving several clips taken from private medical environments.
Authorities believe the hospital’s CCTV network was compromised externally, allowing unauthorized access to live or stored footage. Importantly, preliminary assessments suggested that hospital staff were not involved in the breach.
Investigators also confirmed that the leaked videos were being actively traded on private Telegram groups, while promotional clips were shared through public platforms to attract buyers.
Illegal Online Market for Sensitive Surveillance Footage
As the probe deepened, police uncovered a structured digital marketplace operating through encrypted messaging platforms. The network allegedly sold CCTV footage depicting patients in vulnerable medical situations, categorizing content and offering it to subscribers for payment.
Reports indicate that:
- Short preview clips were circulated on video-sharing platforms
- Full footage was sold on private Telegram channels
- Prices reportedly ranged between ₹800 and ₹2,000 per video
- Payments were routed through digital wallets, UPI, and gift cards
Investigators identified multiple Telegram groups allegedly involved in distribution, where content was organized and marketed systematically to potential buyers.
Multi-State Arrests and International Links
Police operations soon expanded across several Indian states, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Uttarakhand. Multiple arrests were made as investigators tracked digital footprints linked to YouTube channels and Telegram groups involved in distributing the footage.
Authorities also reported that some suspects used virtual phone numbers to communicate with individuals believed to be operating from outside India, including contacts traced to Romania and the United States.
The investigation further revealed alleged coordination between multiple accused individuals who shared hacking tools, CCTV access credentials, and payment instructions through encrypted messaging platforms.
Stronger Legal Charges Including Cyber Terrorism
Initially, suspects were booked under provisions dealing with privacy violations and obscene content under India’s Information Technology laws. However, as the scale and sensitivity of the operation became clear, authorities escalated the charges.
Stronger legal provisions were added, including sections related to cybercrime and cyber terrorism under Indian criminal law frameworks. Officials cited the seriousness of the breach and its long-term psychological and privacy impact on victims and their families as justification for harsher charges.
Investigators also noted evidence suggesting coordinated operations, including:
- Exchange of CCTV hacking tools
- Distribution of access credentials
- Financial transactions through digital channels
- Use of multiple online groups to organize content sales
Digital Footprints Reveal Coordinated Network
Forensic analysis of seized devices reportedly uncovered extensive communication records, financial transactions, and tools linked to unauthorized access of CCTV systems.
Police said multiple hacking applications were found on suspects’ devices, along with data indicating access to DVR systems and surveillance infrastructure from multiple locations.
The case also highlighted how encrypted platforms such as Telegram were allegedly used to organize a structured network involving content creators, distributors, and buyers.
Growing Concerns Over Surveillance Security in Healthcare Facilities
The case has raised serious concerns about the security of CCTV systems in sensitive environments such as hospitals. Experts note that healthcare institutions often store highly sensitive footage, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity analysts warn that weak authentication, outdated firmware, and poorly secured remote access systems can expose surveillance networks to external compromise if not properly secured.
Conclusion
What began as a single viral video from a hospital labour room has evolved into one of the most significant cybercrime investigations in recent years, exposing a suspected multi-state network involved in hacking and monetizing sensitive surveillance footage.
The case highlights critical gaps in digital security infrastructure within healthcare systems and underscores the growing threat posed by cybercriminal networks exploiting private surveillance data for financial gain.
Child Safety & Online Protection
Bhadohi Police Arrest Man for Allegedly Filming Children and Uploading Videos Online
Police in Bhadohi have arrested a man accused of secretly filming children and uploading the recordings on social media platforms in an attempt to gain followers and generate online engagement. The arrest was made after a cybercrime complaint triggered a digital investigation that led authorities to the suspect’s mobile and email records.
Officials say the case highlights the growing misuse of social media platforms for the circulation of sensitive and unauthorized visual content, particularly involving minors.
Cyber Complaint Filed via National Reporting Portal
According to police, the investigation began after a complaint was submitted through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, a government platform used to report online offences.
Cybercrime officials reviewed the social media account mentioned in the complaint and began tracing associated digital identifiers, including linked phone numbers and email addresses. These technical indicators eventually led investigators to a suspect identified as Nabeel Hayat Ansari, a resident of Kurauna village under Aurai police station limits.
He was arrested late Sunday night following confirmation of his alleged involvement.
Allegations of Secret Recording and Online Uploads
Preliminary findings suggest that the accused allegedly recorded children without their knowledge or consent and uploaded the videos to social media platforms over a period of several weeks.
Police stated that the content was reportedly shared on Instagram between mid-January and early April 2026. Investigators believe the uploads were intended to increase visibility and grow the reach of the account.
Authorities are treating both the covert recording and the subsequent online distribution as part of the same alleged offence.
Digital Evidence Led to Arrest
Investigators relied heavily on digital tracing methods, including analysis of:
- Linked mobile phone numbers
- Registered email addresses
- Social media account metadata
- Upload activity timelines
These digital footprints were used to establish a connection between the online account and the accused individual, forming the basis for the arrest.
Officials noted that the case originated entirely from online reporting, demonstrating the increasing role of cybercrime portals in initiating investigations.
Legal Action Under BNS and IT Act
The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Section 67B of the Information Technology Act, which addresses the publication or transmission of sexually explicit material involving minors.
Police have not disclosed whether additional suspects are being investigated or whether electronic devices have been seized for forensic analysis. However, officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Growing Concern Over Misuse of Social Media Platforms
The case has raised renewed concerns about the misuse of social media platforms for unauthorized recording and distribution of sensitive content involving children.
Cybersecurity and law enforcement experts warn that such incidents underscore the need for:
- Stronger platform-level monitoring
- Faster reporting and takedown mechanisms
- Public awareness about digital safety and consent laws
Authorities continue to emphasize strict legal consequences for offences involving the exploitation or unauthorized recording of minors.
Conclusion
The Bhadohi arrest reflects a broader challenge faced by law enforcement agencies as social media platforms are increasingly misused for harmful and illegal content distribution. With investigations ongoing, police are expected to examine additional digital evidence and determine whether more individuals are linked to the case.
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