Cyber fraudsters siphon Rs 102 crore from senior citizens in Hyderabad

Cyber fraudsters siphoned a total of Rs 102.02 crore from senior citizens across Hyderabad over a 19-month period spanning from January 2025 to July 31, 2026, according to police data. During this timeframe, law enforcement authorities registered 403 cybercrime cases involving victims aged above 60 across the city.

Police reported that trading frauds caused the single highest amount of financial loss to elderly residents. A total of 113 trading fraud cases were registered, leading to losses amounting to Rs 55.88 crore. In these schemes, cybercriminals typically lured senior citizens through messaging channels on WhatsApp and Telegram, promising high financial returns from trading activities conducted through fake mobile applications.

Digital arrest scams emerged as the second-largest category of financial loss among senior citizens in Hyderabad. Police recorded 69 digital arrest scam cases involving losses of Rs 31.93 crore. During these incidents, fraudsters impersonated officials from various law enforcement and regulatory bodies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Customs, Narcotics, or police departments. The perpetrators conducted video calls to threaten victims with fabricated allegations of money-laundering cases.

The police data detailed several other methods used to target senior citizens during the 19-month span. A total of 115 cases involved OTP frauds, which resulted in cumulative losses of Rs 4.94 crore. Furthermore, 22 cases of investment fraud caused financial losses totaling Rs 2.79 crore. Additionally, seven cybercrime cases involved fake social media and dating profiles, leading to losses of more than Rs 70.11 lakh.

Despite the high cumulative losses, police stated that cybercrime incidents targeting senior citizens declined in 2026 as a result of active awareness campaigns, monitoring, and faster intervention by law enforcement. During the year 2025, a total of 285 cybercrime cases involving senior citizens were registered, with total losses amounting to Rs 71.81 crore. In comparison, during the first seven months of 2026 up to July 31, the number of reported cases dropped to 118, with total financial losses recorded at Rs 30.20 crore.