Cyberabad police arrest 25, secure refunds ≈Rs 78.8 lakh in trading/crypto fraud sweep
Cyberabad police reported 25 arrests through Jan 15 and obtained court orders to refund about Rs 78.8 lakh to victims of trading and crypto fraud schemes. Investigations found fake trading apps and WhatsApp investment groups that faked profits, used repeated deposits, and laundered proceeds through shell accounts.
Cyberabad (Hyderabad) police announced a sequence of enforcement actions targeting trading and crypto-related fraud that resulted in 25 arrests and court-ordered refunds totaling about Rs 78.8 lakh to victimized investors. Investigators say operations relied on counterfeit trading applications, controlled investment groups on WhatsApp, and scripted account activity to fabricate returns and induce repeated deposits from victims. Raids recovered mobile devices, SIM cards, and transaction records; follow-the-money efforts traced proceeds into shell bank accounts and identified layering techniques consistent with laundering. Police have secured preservation orders and sought cooperation from payment processors and financial institutions to freeze assets pending civil remedies. Authorities also emphasized public outreach advising investors to be cautious of guaranteed-return claims, verify platform credentials, and report suspicious solicitations. The Cyberabad actions form part of broader regional efforts to disrupt organized fraud rings exploiting retail appetite for trading and crypto exposure, with further arrests and asset-recovery steps signaled as investigations continue.