Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested a 26 year old man in connection with an alleged honey trap cyber fraud case targeting a senior citizen and recovered two mobile phones from his possession.
The case was registered as Crime No. 1104/2025 under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Senior Citizen Allegedly Duped of ₹38 Lakh
- According to the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police, a 70 year old retired employee from Hyderabad approached the police on June 17, 2025, and lodged a complaint.
- Police said the victim received a Facebook friend request from an account using a woman’s name. After accepting the request, the victim allegedly began communicating with the person.
- According to the complaint, the woman initially gained the victim’s confidence and requested money on the pretext of household needs.
- Police said that later, another man allegedly contacted the victim and claimed to be a relative of the woman.
- The police further stated that the woman subsequently engaged the victim in sexual conversations and allegedly used the chats to threaten and blackmail him.
- The victim was allegedly threatened with criminal action and accused of sexual exploitation. Police said the accused allegedly extorted approximately ₹38 lakh from the victim by using these threats.
Accused Arrested
- Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police said they arrested a 26 year old man from Palakollu, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh in connection with the case.
- Police seized two mobile phones from the accused.
- The investigation is continuing to establish the complete role of the accused and identify whether other persons were involved in the alleged fraud.
How the Alleged Honey Trap Fraud Works
- According to police, fraudsters often create fake social media profiles using photographs and names of young women.
- They send friend requests to elderly men and gradually build trust through regular conversations.
- After gaining confidence, the fraudsters may ask for money by citing household expenses, medical emergencies, gifts or other reasons.
- Police said the fraud can later turn into a blackmail scheme involving intimate conversations or allegations of sexual misconduct.
- In some cases, fraudsters allegedly impersonate police officers or other officials and threaten victims with criminal cases unless they pay money.
Police Advisory to Senior Citizens
Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have advised senior citizens and the public to remain cautious while communicating with unknown people online.
Police advised people to:
- Avoid accepting friend requests from unknown people on Facebook, Instagram and other social-media platforms.
- Avoid personal or intimate conversations with unknown accounts.
- Never transfer money to strangers based on online requests.
- Remember that genuine police officials do not demand money over the phone to settle criminal cases.
- Immediately disconnect calls or chats when someone threatens them with criminal action and demands money.
- Keep social-media accounts and profiles private.
Family Members Asked to Help Elderly Relatives
- Police also appealed to family members to educate elderly relatives about cyber fraud and online blackmail.
- They advised families to maintain friendly communication with senior citizens about their online activities and encouraged victims not to feel ashamed or hesitate to report cybercrime.
- Early reporting can help authorities take steps to trace and potentially freeze fraudulent transactions.
What to Do If You Become a Victim
- Anyone who becomes a victim of cyber financial fraud should immediately call 1930 or report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
- The faster a victim reports the fraud, the greater the possibility of taking timely action to trace or freeze the money.
Important: The allegations in this report are based on the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police press note. The accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in accordance with law.
