In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered 78 FIRs in February 2026 and arrested 117 accused persons from 16 states under a special drive called “Operation Octopus.” The arrests were made in connection with 74 cybercrime cases as part of coordinated efforts with local law and order teams.
According to officials, most cases involved online trading and investment scams, which accounted for 63 incidents. Other reported frauds included digital arrest scams (6 cases), OTP fraud (4 cases), and social media fraud (1 case).
Investigations led to the refund of ₹34,76,884 to victims, providing relief to several people affected by cyber scams. Police said the arrested suspects were also linked to 1,081 cybercrime cases across India, with bank accounts associated with them recording transactions worth nearly ₹139 crore.
During the operation, authorities seized large quantities of evidence used in cyber fraud networks. The items recovered included ₹36 lakh in cash, 221 mobile phones, 26 laptops, 115 cheque books, 141 SIM cards, 54 debit cards, 56 shell stamps, and 152 bank passbooks, along with other incriminating documents.
Meanwhile, the city’s Zonal Cyber Cells received 2,963 complaints in February through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Out of these, 461 FIRs were registered, and 11 more accused linked to nine cases were arrested across different parts of the country. Authorities also managed to refund ₹24,10,741 to victims in these cases.
Cyber patrol teams also identified 124 fake accounts on Facebook and Instagram, which were running 539 advertisements promoting illegal online gaming and betting apps. These accounts and ads were reported and subsequently taken down.
Officials urged the public to stay cautious while using the internet and social media. They warned people to avoid fake investment schemes, suspicious APK files, phishing links and impersonation scams posing as government authorities. Citizens were also reminded that online betting and gambling are illegal in Telangana and can lead to legal action.
Victims of cyber fraud are advised to immediately report incidents by calling the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 or filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to help authorities quickly freeze and recover funds.
The information was shared by M. Srinivasulu, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes & SIT), Hyderabad City.
