Latest news with #ShikhaGoel
Hans India
04-08-2025
- Hans India
Telangana Cyber Security Bureau arrests 228 criminals
Hyderabad: TheTelangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has apprehended 228 accused persons, including 27 women, over the last seven months. The individuals were involved in various cyber crime offences across India. The arrests were made across multiple states, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. According to the Cyber Security Bureau, the crackdown covered a wide range of cyber crimes, from fake call centres and job scams to child exploitation and cyber slavery rings. 'This extensive enforcement effort, including three special operations conducted during this period by TGCSB, resulted in a 13 per cent decline in cyber crime cases in Telangana during the first half of this year,' said Shikha Goel, Director, TGCSB. During the same period, the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of TGCSB arrested 15 habitual offenders associated with 57 cyber tip line complaints involving Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) across Telangana. In special operations, the bureau also arrested various other accused involved in multiple crimes across the country. The 228 arrested individuals are linked to 1,313 all-India and 189 Telangana crime links, in which Rs 92 crore was defrauded. The arrested hail from every corner of India, including Telangana (93), Nagaland (42), Gujarat (20), Andhra Pradesh (17), West Bengal (6), Uttar Pradesh (6), Manipur (5), Assam (5), Maharashtra (5), Odisha (5), Karnataka (3), Bihar (3), Meghalaya (2), and one each in Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The arrested individuals were found to be involved in various types of cyber offences, including 66 related to fake call centres, 77 in investment and job frauds, 15 CSEAM-related, 18 in cyber slavery modules, 13 online trading frauds, and several other offences such as illegal SIM box operators, digital arrest, identity theft, and impersonation.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- The Hindu
228 cyber criminals arrested across India by Telangana Cyber Security Bureau
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) arrested 228 individuals, including 27 women, for their involvement in various cybercrimes between 1 January and 31 July this year. The arrests were made through its seven cybercrime police stations across Telangana and other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand. The director of TGCSB, Shikha Goel, said that the arrested people are linked to 1,313 cybercrime cases nationwide and 189 in Telangana, involving a total fraud of ₹92 crore. 'The crackdown led to a 13% decline in reported cybercrime cases across Telangana in the first half of the year,' said the officer. The Bureau conducted three major special operations from January to July. Fake call centre busted in Feb A fraudulent call centre operating out of Patrika Nagar, Hi-Tec City, Hyderabad, was shut down. Sixty-three individuals, mostly from Gujarat and the North East, were arrested for targeting NRIs and US citizens through fake tech support and legal scam calls. Cyber fraud crackdown in Gujarat in May Between 1 and 10 May, a 10-day operation in Surat led to the arrest of 20 individuals involved in cyber fraud. They were linked to over 60 cases in Telangana and 515 across India. Child sexual exploitation cases in June Fifteen repeat offenders were arrested by the Child Protection Unit for possessing and circulating child sexual exploitation and abuse material. These arrests followed 57 cyber tipline complaints. The arrested accused were involved in a wide range of offences, including 66 in fake call centre operations, 77 in investment and job frauds, 15 in child sexual exploitation material (CSEAM), 18 in cyber slavery rackets, and others in SIM box fraud, identity theft, online trading scams, and digital arrest cases. 'Most of the accused (149 out of 228) are aged between 18 and 30 years. They come from a range of educational and professional backgrounds, including 49 graduates, 18 B. Tech holders, and one law graduate. Many were found to be students, software professionals, private employees, and bank staff,' explained the officer. Citizens are urged to report suspicious online activity via the 1930 helpline or at
Hans India
03-08-2025
- Hans India
Telangana Cyber Security Bureau arrests 228 cyber criminals between January, July 2025
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau on Sunday said it had arrested 228 individuals—including 27 women—in connection with various cybercrime offences reported across the country between January 1 and July 31, 2025. The crackdown targeted a range of offences, including fake call centres, job scams, child exploitation, and cyber slavery rings. Three special operations carried out during this period contributed to a 13 per cent decline in cybercrime cases in Telangana in the first half of the year, TGCSB director Shikha Goel said in a release. The 228 arrested individuals were linked to 1,313 cybercrime cases across India, including 189 cases in Telangana. The total amount defrauded in these cases stood at Rs 92 crore, it stated. Arrests were made in multiple states, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand. The accused came from various socio-economic backgrounds—including private sector employees, students, software professionals and bank staff. A majority of them (149 out of 228) were in the age group of 18 to 30 years, the bureau added.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cyber fraud losses see 24% drop in Telangana, thanks to awareness
Hyderabad: In the first six months of 2025, victims in Telangana lost Rs 681 crore to cyber fraudsters, which is Rs 219 crore less than in the same period last year. The Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) attributed the 24% decline in cybercrime losses to increased public awareness. In fact, this decline significantly outpaces the national average reduction of 4%. While cyber fraud complaints across India rose by 37% from Jan to June 2025, Telangana saw a 13% reduction in complaints during the same period. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad During the first half of 2024, India reported over 7.7 lakh cyber fraud complaints , resulting in losses totalling of Rs 9,958 crore. During the same period in 2025, this figure rose to over 10.6 lakh complaints, with losses amounting to Rs 9,591 crore. In Telangana, cyber fraud complaints fell from 47,198 to 41,172, and losses dropped from Rs 900 crore to Rs 681 crore. Of this, Rs 107 crore was seized by the police from the bank accounts of fraudsters. 74% drop in reward points scam The most significant reduction was observed in reward points scams, with a 74% decrease from 1,735 cases in 2024 to just 459 this year. Furthermore, gift fraud cases fell by 60% (from 642 to 258), digital arrest cases dropped by 45% (from 1,631 to 905), KYC update cases reduced by 60% (from 1,398 to 566) and sextortion cases by 41% (from 954 to 560). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in Bogota: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo The only category to see an increase was loan fraud, rising by 16% from 5,999 cases in 2024 to 6,951 in 2025. Meanwhile, TGCSB director Shikha Goel attributed the reduction in cybercrime losses and complaints to comprehensive awareness campaigns, rapid response mechanisms for reporting, enhanced community and industry engagement, and data-driven enforcement. "Large-scale, statewide initiatives targeting major scams such as digital arrest fraud, investment fraud, and OTP-based crimes were conducted. Public outreach using caller tunes, posters, workshops in schools and colleges, and focused district training programmes helped build awareness and vigilance among citizens," she said. The director further added that introducing a 1930 helpline chatbot and a more efficient IVR system helped reduce complaint reporting time from six to seven minutes to less than three minutes. "This enables us to freeze fraudulent transactions rapidly, optimising action during the golden hour when recovery chances are highest," she said. Rs170 crore lost in stock market investment Of the Rs 681 crore lost, the largest share was due to stock market investment and part-time job fraud at Rs 170 crore. The next largest loss was at Rs 33 crore in the 'credit card compromise' category, where fraudsters posing as bank representatives contacted victims to update their card details and subsequently making financial transactions. In the digital arrests category, which involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officers and threatening victims with fictitious arrests for money laundering and drug trafficking, a loss of Rs 33 crore was recorded. Customer care fraud, where offenders posted internet ads posing as customer service employees and deceived people seeking help, resulted in losses totalling Rs 24.5 crore. Losses of a little over Rs 14 crore were incurred through fraudsters collecting money as processing fees with fake loan promises, while Rs 4 crore was lost to KYC fraud. 56% drop in senior citizens falling prey to digital arrest According to TGCSB data, govt employees were more susceptible to identity theft than investment fraud, whereas the unemployed were more susceptible to investment fraud. Farmers were targeted by loan fraud rather than investment fraud. Senior citizens remained largely immune to sextortion this year, with only eight cases compared to last year. There was a 56% reduction in senior citizens falling prey to digital arrest scams, which is attributed to increased awareness.
New Indian Express
26-07-2025
- New Indian Express
13% dip in cybercrime in Telangana, says TGCSB chief
HYDERABAD: Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) Director Shikha Goel underscored the importance of continuous learning and technological agility in combating the rising tide of cyber threats. She noted that Telangana witnessed a 13% decline in cybercrime cases in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, an impressive feat, especially as the rest of the country saw a 37% surge during the same period. She was speaking at a special capacity enhancement session organised by TGCSB for its cyber warriors and officers. Highlighting the state's cybercrime mitigation efforts, Goel revealed that of the Rs 726 crore lost to cybercrime this year, Rs 105 crore was successfully frozen and Rs 102 crore refunded to victims. Additionally, 1,957 SIM cards, 7,178 device IMEIs, and 565 URLs have been blocked to disrupt fraudulent networks. The interactive event aimed to sharpen the skills of personnel and introduce them to the latest tools and strategies in cybercrime investigation and digital forensics. During the session, 25 cyber warriors from across the state and 15 officials from TGCSB headquarters and Cybercrime police stations were felicitated for their outstanding contributions in key cybercrime verticals. These included prompt petition disposal through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), issuance of refund orders, community awareness programmes, execution of PT warrants, and effective follow-up on status calls. The TGCSB has also conducted targeted cyber awareness campaigns statewide, reinforcing its commitment to building a secure digital ecosystem.
