Cyber cops save victims in golden hour

In two swift and decisive interventions, the Cyber Crime Unit of Hyderabad City Police successfully prevented major financial losses by acting within the crucial Golden Hour

Hyderabad cybercrime unit blocks frauds, recovers money in two APK-based scams In two swift and decisive interventions, the Cyber Crime Unit of Hyderabad City Police successfully prevented major financial losses by acting within the crucial Golden Hour, blocking unauthorized transactions and recovering the defrauded amounts in separate APK-based cyber fraud cases.

In the first case, reported on December 5, 2025, a 26-year-old software engineer from Yousufguda received a fraudulent WhatsApp message asking him to pay a Rs 1,000 traffic challan. The message carried a link to download a fake “M-Parivahan” APK hosted on a suspicious website. Once installed, the malware accessed OTPs from the victim’s phone and enabled unauthorized ICICI credit card transactions amounting to Rs 5,23,125.

The victim immediately called 1930 and filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Acting quickly, PC B. Priyanka coordinated with ICICI Bank and Amazon Pay to block and reverse the transactions. The prompt response ensured that the entire amount was successfully recovered.

In the second incident, reported on November 10, 2025, a 53-year-old resident of Amberpet installed a fake RBL Bank APK that similarly captured OTPs and triggered fraudulent transactions totaling Rs 1,25,822. PCs N. Srikanth Naik and Md. Javeed assisted the victim in filing the complaint. The investigation revealed that purchases were being routed through Flipkart and Mobikwik for digital gift cards. The orders were cancelled in time, enabling a refund of Rs 1,00,000.

Technical analysis confirmed that the malicious APKs were designed to read SMS and OTPs, gain control over the device, and even attempt WhatsApp hijacking to spread the malware further.

The Cyber Crime Unit stressed the importance of the Golden Hour, urging the public to report incidents immediately to maximize the chances of reversing fraudulent transactions.

Citizens are advised not to download suspicious APK files, avoid sharing financial details, and report cyber frauds promptly via 1930 or the NCRP portal.