The Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have frozen bank accounts of several citizens across the city as part of a large scale crackdown on online fraud. Authorities said that any account found to be directly or indirectly linked to digital fraud or illegal online transactions will be frozen during ongoing investigations.
Officials said the action aims to protect the financial system from organised fraud networks. However, the move has also affected many ordinary citizens who have no direct involvement in scams. Several account holders are facing blocked transactions, delayed business payments, unpaid EMIs and frozen savings.
Cybercrime officials pointed to a sharp rise in online fraud cases involving fake investment schemes, illegal instant loan applications, online gaming and betting proceeds, and cryptocurrency transactions, especially USDT purchases routed through compromised accounts. Police explained that many people unknowingly become “money mules”, where their bank accounts are temporarily used to move illegal funds. Common triggers include fake business loan offers, unverified business payments, online betting receipts and cryptocurrency transactions linked to fraud money.
Authorities stressed that selling or lending a bank account is a criminal offence under the Information Technology Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Even unintentional involvement can result in arrests, criminal cases, damage to credit scores and issues with employment, passport processing and travel documents.
Several affected individuals shared their experiences. Priya V, a twenty five year old community manager from Madhapur, said, “I had my bank account blocked exactly after receiving the salary. Later I discovered that the buyer’s account was linked to a cyber fraud case. I had nothing to do with any scam, but my entire account was blocked. Now, I have my rent and the EMIs, everything stuck.”
Swetha Narayanan, a twenty nine year old employee at a consulting firm, said, “I also had the office and client related money in the bank and two days later, my account was frozen because the buyer’s funds were suspected to be linked to an online fraud somewhere else connected to the previous payments I’ve made.”
Police have issued advisories urging citizens to be cautious about financial transactions. DCP Cyber Crimes V Aravind Babu said the alert is part of efforts to increase public awareness, as cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting innocent individuals.
If an account is frozen, citizens have been advised to first contact their bank to identify the concerned police authority and then submit verification documents at the relevant police station. Accounts are unfrozen only after clearance from all investigating agencies. Citizens have also been urged to report suspicious requests for bank details to the 1930 cybercrime helpline or through the cybercrime portal.
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