A major 25 day operation by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has uncovered how educated professionals, bank staff and corporate employees are becoming key enablers in India’s growing cybercrime networks. The large scale crackdown, carried out across five states, resulted in 81 arrests and revealed a deep link between white collar expertise and organised cyber syndicates operating nationwide.
Officials said the findings prove that cybercrime is no longer driven only by anonymous hackers. A senior official said, “This operation shows that cybercrime is no longer the domain of anonymous hackers it’s being fuelled by professionals who know how the system works.”
Among those arrested were three bank employees. The group included a sales executive linked to 106 cases, a staff member from another bank and a branch manager from a different bank. They are accused of helping scammers move money through mule accounts and perform cash withdrawals. Others taken into custody include a diploma holder in computer operations involved in 96 cases, an accountant from Chennai linked to 31 cases, a BBA graduate involved in 45 cases and an employee of a multinational company who misused his corporate account for fraudulent transfers.
Officials said these arrests highlight the growing misuse of institutional knowledge by professionals who use their skills to hide money trails for cyber gangs. The multi state operation was conducted across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. During the raids, authorities seized 84 mobile phones, 101 SIM cards and 89 bank passbooks connected to many active fraud cases.
Kerala recorded the highest number of arrests at 28, followed by Maharashtra with 23, Karnataka with 13, Andhra Pradesh with 10 and Tamil Nadu with seven. Investigators traced 754 connected cybercrime cases across the country, including 128 in Telangana. The total value of fraudulent transactions was found to be 95 crore rupees.
The bureau focused on dismantling the supply chain of cybercrime, which includes middlemen, agents and mule account holders. Out of the accused, 17 acted as middlemen, 11 handled cheque or cash withdrawals worth 34.7 lakh rupees and 53 worked as mule account holders, earning commissions up to 5 percent. Some suspects were found to have connections with handlers abroad, and look out circulars were issued for foreign linked operatives.
A bureau official said, “These facilitators form the backbone of organised fraud syndicates. Cutting off their access to banks and payment channels is critical to weakening the infrastructure of cybercrime.”
Following the arrests, the bureau issued an advisory asking citizens to be cautious of fake investment platforms, digital arrest scams and cloned trading apps. People were urged to avoid platforms promising unrealistic returns, remember that no officer will demand money online, never share sensitive banking details and use only verified financial apps. Victims can report incidents through the helpline 1930 or the national cybercrime portal. The bureau confirmed that refund processes for identified victims have begun with the help of banks and payment partners.
Experts say this operation marks an important shift in India’s strategy against digital fraud. Instead of reacting to each scam, agencies are now targeting the networks that support them. A senior investigator said, “This isn’t just about busting fraudsters. It’s about breaking the system that lets them thrive.”
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