Cybercrime is now the most frequently reported crime in the country and Hyderabad’s police leadership is clear about the challenge – once money is siphoned off online, recovery becomes difficult, arrests
tougher, and the trail often goes cold across states and platforms. “Prevention is the need of the hour,” said VC Sajjanar, Hyderabad’s police commissioner in an exclusive interview to News18. He said that, outlining a strategy that shifts focus from post-crime investigation to early detection and public awareness. “Once a cybercrime takes place, it is not easy to detect the crime, recover the money, or arrest the culprits. We are on a war to nab the culprits early and we want to track down the last paisa if possible. But the problem is that people need to be more aware and complain as soon as the crime takes place, if they have fallen prey.” Calling Hyderabad ‘a safe city’, he said since taking over in September this year, he has doubled his efforts and the police force has launched sustained public outreach to keep it that way — particularly as cyber fraud surges across India and there has been an uptick in Hyderabad as well.
2 police campaigns
Soon after taking charge, he has pushed for city-wide awareness drives, recognising that online fraud thrives on ignorance, urgency and misplaced trust.
Two major online police campaigns — Jagruta Hyderabad and Suraksha Hyderabad — are now at the centre of that effort. Every Friday and Saturday, police teams step out of stations and into neighbourhoods, markets and public spaces, directly engaging with citizens on cyber risks, digital hygiene and how to respond when something feels off.
The emphasis, he said, is on making every citizen alert. “We want every single cybercrime to be registered. Only when complaints come in quickly can we act fast.”
Hyderabad currently has 17 cybercrime cells, and the plan is to strengthen them with better technical support and manpower. “These crimes are multi-dimensional — multiple locations, multiple stakeholders, multiple digital layers. We need stronger tools to detect them early and prevent future losses,” Sajjanar said.
Online betting, financial fraud
A major area of concern is online betting and financial fraud, where early detection can make the difference between partial recovery and total loss. Sajjanar, as part of his anti-online fraud campaign, he recently developed a dedicated app to tackle betting-related cybercrime — and this initiative clocked over 99 million hits within 15 days of being activated, highlighting both the scale of the problem and the public appetite seeking intervention.
But enforcement alone, the Hyderabad Police Commissioner said, will not work unless banks and regulators are fully integrated into the response. “RBI, banks and online platforms are key stakeholders. We need faster information flow from banks so we can immediately track accounts and link them to the accused. That is why we briefed the RBI director recently,” he explained.
Money mules
At the heart of many scams, Commissioner Sajjanar said, is the “money mule” — individuals who open multiple bank accounts that criminals use to route stolen funds. In one recent case, an arrested man had opened 120 accounts. “More than ₹1 crore was siphoned off, but we could recover only ₹16 lakh,” the senior officer said. “That is why tracking the mule at the top is critical.”
Festive seasons have created a new situation, especially for senior citizens.
Cybercriminals are now aggressively targeting elderly account holders, particularly those with idle accounts holding savings set aside for the future.
“Earlier it was insurance fraud. Now they are directly targeting bank accounts of the elderly,” he said. During Christmas and festive seasons, he warned, has seen a spike in scams promising prizes, discounts and free gifts.
One particularly dangerous tactic involves free smartphones. “People are being sent phones with SIM cards pre-installed. Once activated, the criminals track transactions and siphon off money. These are classic traps,” he said, urging people to never accept unsolicited gifts or devices.
Among people of all economic strata, senior citizens are now increasingly becoming targets of so-called “digital arrests” — a rapidly growing scam where fraudsters pose as law enforcement officials, threaten legal action, and demand money to ‘resolve’ fabricated cases.
“In the last three to six months, we have seen a sharp increase in digital arrest cases,” the Hyderabad police Commissioner said, adding that citizens should immediately alert the police if they receive such calls. The central government’s advisory tone for digital arrests, he said, must be taken seriously.
Cybercriminals, however, are not selective. “They target all sections of society — whoever they think they can trap,” he said. Different gangs focus on different demographics, using tailored scripts and psychological pressure.
The police’s advice remains consistent: never click on unknown links or APK files, verify callers claiming to be from customer care, banks or government agencies, and report suspicious activity immediately. “Awareness is our first line of defence,” the officer said. “If people pause, verify and report early, half the battle is already won.”
As cybercrime continues to evolve, Hyderabad’s approach is clear — take the fight to the streets, screens and smartphones before fraudsters get there first.
