Three students arrested in ‘digital arrest’ fraud in Hyderabad

Three students from Hyderabad and Nalgonda were arrested for supplying bank accounts used in a 'digital arrest' scam that defrauded a government employee of ₹6.5 lakh. Police say the trio is linked to 23 cyber fraud cases across India.

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have arrested three students for their alleged involvement in a “digital arrest” scam that defrauded a 57-year-old government employee of ₹6.5 lakh.

The accused — K Hemanth Reddy (21), M Yeswanth Reddy (21), and M Tharun (22) — are residents of Hyderabad and Nalgonda. According to police, the trio, addicted to online gaming and under financial stress, were lured by unidentified fraudsters on WhatsApp to provide bank accounts in exchange for commission.

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They reportedly supplied over 40 bank accounts, which were later used in cyber frauds across India.

In January 2025, the victim received a phone call from an individual posing as a police official, who falsely accused him of involvement in a ₹2 crore money laundering case. The fraudster also sent fake documents, including a forged arrest warrant and court orders, and coerced the victim into transferring ₹6.5 lakh for “financial verification” to avoid arrest.

Based on the complaint, the Cybercrime police registered a case and began an investigation. The trio has since been linked to at least 23 other cyber fraud cases reported across the country.