Cyberabad cybercrime police help restore 218 frozen bank accounts linked to fraud transactions

Cyberabad Cybercrime police have helped restore access to 218 bank accounts frozen during fraud investigations. Officials warned that accepting digital transfers from unknown persons in exchange for cash can unknowingly link individuals to cybercrime networks and lead to account freezes.

Hyderabad: Unsuspecting bank customers are met with an unpleasant shock when their bank accounts are suddenly frozen, leaving them locked out of their own money. With no direct involvement in cybercrime, many of these individuals are finding themselves struggling to pay bills, run businesses, or even meet daily expenses.

Recognising the distress situation, the Cybercrime authorities, in a proactive step, are helping citizens to ‘defreeze’ their bank accounts and restore access to affected account holders.

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As part of this initiative, the Cyberabad Cybercrime officials have so far helped in restoration of 218 frozen accounts, with victims receiving No Objection Certificates (NOCs), which allow banks to lift restrictions and resume normal operations.

According to Cybercrime officials, there is a pattern observed in many such cases. Cyber fraudsters, looking to move illicit funds, often approach small traders, shopkeepers and mall operators with a seemingly harmless request. They claim to have money in digital form and offer to transfer it via UPI in exchange for cash.

For the recipient, the transaction appears to be genuine. But in reality, the transferred amount is often linked to some fraud. “Once a complaint is registered and the money trail is traced, law enforcement agencies freeze all associated accounts, including those of innocent recipients,” said a senior Cybercrime official.

The impact of such freezes goes beyond inconvenience as small business owners report being unable to purchase stock, pay salaries, or clear dues. Salaried individuals have struggled to access savings, while families dependent on digital payments have been pushed into financial uncertainty.

In many cases, victims were unaware of the reason behind the freeze, adding to their anxiety and confusion. This has recently led to a surge in complaints from people who unknowingly became part of a cybercrime chain.

Cyberabad DCP (Cybercrime) T Sai Manohar has cautioned citizens against getting involved in cash-for-digital transfer deals with unknown persons. “Even if the transaction appears genuine, individuals must understand the risk of handling funds from unverified sources. It can unintentionally link them to criminal activity,” he said.

The police have simplified the defreezing process:

*Victims are first advised to approach their bank, which provides details of the freeze and the concerned police station.

*They must then visit the respective police station and submit account information along with KYC documents.

*After verification and inquiry, police issue an NOC if no wrongdoing is found.

*The bank, upon receiving the NOC, typically restores the account within three days.

*Mela format allows multiple cases to be reviewed and cleared in a short span, reducing procedural delays.