Following days of coordinated intelligence work, the Hyderabad City Police has uncovered a large organised cybercrime syndicate operating across the country. The action, carried out under “Operation Octopus”, led to raids in 16 states and the arrest of 104 accused involved in multiple online fraud models.
The operation focused on investment frauds, trading scams, and the fast-growing “digital arrest” cybercrime method. Police officials said the drive continued for nearly 10 days, with 32 special teams deployed across different states to execute simultaneous raids and arrests.
During the investigation, authorities identified 151 bank accounts used to move money cheated from victims. Among those arrested were 86 mule account holders, 17 account suppliers or aggregators, and 1 bank official accused of providing internal financial support. The bank official was reportedly working as a relationship manager at Bandhan Bank.
Investigators found that the organised network was linked to 1,055 cyber fraud cases nationwide, involving cheating worth around ₹127 crore. During the raids, police seized ₹36 lakh in cash. They also recovered 204 mobile phones, 141 SIM cards, 152 bank passbooks, 234 debit and credit cards, and 26 laptops, along with other incriminating material. The seized digital devices are now under forensic examination to identify more members of the syndicate and trace financial routes.
Officials said the fraudsters used social media and online platforms to lure victims with promises of unrealistic investment returns. In several cases, they impersonated foreign trading experts or law enforcement officers. Victims were threatened with legal action through the so-called “digital arrest” tactic to force immediate money transfers. The probe revealed that stolen funds were quickly routed through multiple accounts and converted into cryptocurrency and other irregular channels.
The operation was monitored by Joint Commissioner of Police S M Vijay Kumar and Cybercrime Division DCP V. Aravind Babu. Police said continuous technical coordination and intelligence sharing enabled swift action across states.
Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar said cybercrime poses a serious threat to society and reiterated a zero-tolerance approach against such networks. He added that investigations are ongoing to reach higher-level operators.
Police have advised the public to stay alert against calls or messages promising abnormal returns, urgent payments, or threatening legal action.
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