Hyderabad cybercrime police warn of ‘digital arrest’ scams

City Cybercrime Police have warned citizens about a rise in sophisticated online frauds involving OTP sharing, fake mobile applications and ‘digital arrest’ scams. Officials advised the public not to share sensitive information or download suspicious applications from unknown sources.

Hyderabad: The City Cybercrime Police has issued a public advisory warning citizens about a surge in sophisticated online fraud involving OTP sharing, malicious mobile applications and so-called ‘Digital Arrest’ frauds.

According to Cybercrime officials, fraudsters are adopting a multi-layered approach to target victims. They first pose as representatives of banks, telecom firms, or government agencies to trick individuals into revealing one-time passwords (OTPs), gaining unauthorised access to sensitive accounts.

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In the next stage, victims are persuaded to download fake mobile applications through links sent via messages or email. “These malicious APK files allow criminals to access SMS data, steal passwords and banking credentials and even remotely monitor mobile devices,” officials said.

Police said the stolen information is then used to build detailed profiles of victims, making subsequent fraud attempts more convincing. In many cases, scammers impersonate law enforcement or central agencies, falsely accusing individuals of serious crimes and staging fake video calls to create panic.

Under pressure, victims are coerced into transferring money as part of alleged verification or settlement processes.

Officials have clarified that no police agency conducts arrests via video calls or demands payments for legal procedures.