Telangana Cyber Bureau Busters Delhi Call-Centre Fraud, 22 Held
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has dismantled a fraudulent call-centre network operating from Delhi, arresting 22 individuals in connection with a series of cyber frauds targeting victims across Telangana. The arrests follow coordinated raids at three call centres in the Shiva Market area of Delhi, which allegedly operated for approximately one and a half years.
The arrested include 21 Telugu-speaking women telecallers and a male bank account holder, according to official statements. The three alleged organisers—Lalith Singh, Kuldeep Singh, and Anil—remain absconding, the bureau said. Investigators have so far linked the network to 22 cybercrime cases registered across Telangana, with further inquiries ongoing.
During the raids, authorities seized 23 mobile phones and two bank passbooks. The bureau said the accused deliberately recruited Telugu-speaking women from Telangana to build trust with potential victims, leveraging the familiarity of the regional language to make fraudulent calls appear legitimate.
The callers, posing as representatives of Bajaj Finance, would offer attractive loan approvals and then demand money under various pretexts, including processing fees, verification charges, documentation fees, and insurance premiums. After receiving payments, the accused either stopped communicating or continued pressuring victims for more money by promising eventual loan disbursement. Investigators also found that victims who questioned the transactions or sought refunds were allegedly threatened with legal action, reputational damage, and misuse of their personal information and identity documents.
The recruitment of regional-language speakers is part of a broader trend among cybercriminals to exploit linguistic and cultural familiarity. Speaking on the operation, Shikha Goel, Director of TGCSB, cautioned, "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."
The bureau noted that many of the telecallers came from Korutla in Jagtial district, as well as Saidabad, Borabanda, and Mahabubnagar. The arrested individuals include team leaders and telecallers, while the alleged masterminds remain at large. Further action is expected as the investigation continues.
TGCSB has urged citizens to independently verify loan offers before making any payment. Legitimate financial institutions do not ask customers to pay advance fees for loan processing, and any such demands should be treated as red flags. The bureau also advised people to avoid sharing personal information or identity documents with unknown callers and to report suspicious communications to the authorities.
Those who fall victim to cyber fraud should immediately call the national helpline 1930 or report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in). Prompt reporting can help authorities freeze fraudulent accounts and recover funds, the bureau added.
The operation highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud networks and the importance of public vigilance. Law enforcement agencies continue to track such networks operating across state borders, and coordination between state and central agencies is crucial in curbing these crimes.
