T cuts digital arrest losses, but fraudsters still snare the unaware

Hyderabad: The amount lost by Telangana residents to digital arrest scams has fallen sharply, from Rs 176 crore in 2024 to Rs 76 crore so far this year, thanks to a 63% dip in reported cases. Yet, officials warn that many citizens remain vulnerable to intimidation tactics used by cyber fraudsters.According to the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), at least five victims in 2025 alone lost more than Rs 1.5 crore each after being convinced they were under digital arrest. Despite the decline in cases, fraudsters continue to trap those unfamiliar with the scam's modus operandi, often wiping out their life savings.As part of its six-week statewide awareness drive, Fraud Ka Full Stop, for which The Times of India is the media partner, police teams are focusing on three major cyber threats this week: digital arrest, sextortion, and cyber slavery.Explaining a recent case, TGCSB officials said, "A caller impersonated a police officer and claimed that money linked to an illegal transaction had landed in the victim's account. He was threatened with digital arrest and kept under duress for two days, during which he transferred Rs 3.3 crore."TGCSB director Shikha Goel stressed that no police investigation is ever done on a video call. "There is nothing called digital arrest. The moment you receive such a call, hang up. Fraudsters exploit ignorance. One must pause, think and act," she said.Sextortion, too, remains a major concern. In the last three years, 7,337 victims in Telangana have lost Rs 14.6 crore after responding to unsolicited WhatsApp video calls.In one case, a 35-year-old man paid Rs 1.2 crore after a woman who introduced herself as Karishma Reddy tricked him into explicit video chat and then blackmailed him with threats of a police complaint. Police said scammers often morph short explicit clips to extort large sums. "Do not accept unknown video calls," officials cautioned.