Hyderabad police have taken strong action against social media fraud. The Panjagutta police station registered a criminal case against two individuals. These persons used their social media handles to promote illegal lottery schemes.
Complaint from Actor Karate Kalyani
Police filed the case based on a formal complaint from actor Karate Kalyani. She reported seeing numerous lottery schemes advertised as 'lucky draws' across various social media platforms. The accused allegedly collected money through UPI payments. They lured victims with promises of expensive gifts through these fraudulent lotteries.
How the Scam Operated
The scammers employed several deceptive tactics. They posted attractive advertisements promising gifts like cars, televisions, bikes, and refrigerators. When users clicked on these ads, they were redirected to different websites. Some of these links reportedly led to the download of APK files, which could compromise device security.
To build trust with potential victims, the accused even shot promotional videos at a popular temple in Andhra Pradesh. They asked victims to pay money under the guise of registration fees. Several instances have been documented where victims lost significant amounts of money through these schemes.
Legal Action and Police Response
Police have named two social media influencers as accused in the case. Authorities booked them under multiple charges including cheating. The case also involves violations of the Information Technology Act and the Telangana Lotteries Act.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar made an important announcement on social media. He stated that the Prize Chits and Money Circulation (Banning) Act would be invoked against influencers who attract people through lucky draw schemes. Police have shared several videos on their social media platforms, labeling them as fraudulent. These videos show influencers allegedly luring people with fake lucky draw offers.
Warning About Festival Season Scams
In a separate social media post, Hyderabad police issued a warning to citizens. They noted that cyber criminals are developing new tricks to cheat people during public celebrations. Specifically, they mentioned the Sankranti and Republic Day periods as vulnerable times.
Police highlighted that several fake links are circulating widely on WhatsApp. These messages carry titles like 'PhonePe Republic Day Mega Gift' and 'Sankranti Gift'. Cyber fraudsters claim that clicking these links will give users Rs 5,000 for free. Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and avoid such suspicious links.
The police action demonstrates their commitment to combating cyber crime in Hyderabad. They continue to monitor social media platforms for fraudulent activities targeting innocent citizens.
