Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) on Tuesday said it dismantled a fraudulent call‑centre network operating out of Delhi and arrested 22 persons in a probe that has so far been linked to 22 cybercrime cases across Telangana.
Operation, arrests and locations
TGCSB said coordinated raids were carried out at three call centres in Shiva Market, Delhi, which had allegedly been functioning for about one-and-a-half years. Investigators arrested 21 Telugu‑speaking women who worked as telecallers and one male bank account holder during the operation. The agency said the organisers — named as Lalith Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Anil in its statement — are currently absconding.
The bureau reported that many of the telecallers were recruited from Korutla in Jagtial district and localities in Hyderabad such as Saidabad and Borabanda, as well as from Mahabubnagar.
Modus operandi
According to TGCSB, the gang posed as representatives of legitimate financial firms, notably Bajaj Finance, and lured victims with offers of attractive loan approvals. Callers sought to build rapport by using Telugu and thereby gaining victims' confidence before demanding payments for various alleged charges.
The bureau listed typical pretexts used to extract money:
- Processing fees
- Verification charges
- Documentation fees
- Insurance premiums
After victims transferred money, TGCSB said, the telecallers either ceased communication or continued to solicit further payments by promising final approval. When victims asked for refunds or questioned transactions, they were reportedly threatened with legal action, reputational damage and misuse of their personal information and identity documents.
"Cybercriminals increasingly recruit regional-language speakers to gain victims' trust and carry out fraud. Citizens should not trust a caller merely because they are women or speak Telugu or another regional language," said Shikha Goel, Director, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau.
Evidence seized and linked cases
Investigators seized 23 mobile phones and two bank passbooks from the premises. TGCSB said links to 22 cybercrime cases across Telangana have been established and further probes are under way.
| Item seized | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Mobile phones | 23 |
| Bank passbooks | 2 |
Public advisory and next steps
TGCSB has urged citizens to independently verify loan offers before making any payment. The bureau also advised people who suspect they are victims of cyber fraud to immediately contact law enforcement or report the incident through national helplines.
The statement did not provide detailed information about the identities of the arrested telecallers beyond their number and language background, nor did it disclose the total amount of money allegedly extorted. The named organisers are still at large and the probe continues to trace the money trail and any further accomplices.
Local authorities in Telangana will now assess victim reports linked to the 22 cases and coordinate with Delhi police and banks to freeze or trace accounts used for transferring funds. The arrests underline a growing pattern of fraud rings recruiting regional‑language speakers to target specific linguistic communities.
The TGCSB reiterated that citizens should confirm the authenticity of any caller claiming to represent a financial institution by contacting the institution directly on official numbers and should avoid sharing OTPs, bank details or identity documents over the phone.
Further updates are expected as investigators follow leads provided by the seized devices and bank records, and as efforts continue to locate the three alleged organisers who are reported to be on the run.
