Despite a consistent decline in reported cases over the last three years, identity theft has inflicted a staggering financial wound of Rs 618 crore on victims in Telangana. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has revealed these alarming figures, highlighting the evolving threat landscape where fewer scams are causing significant monetary damage.
A Three-Year Snapshot of Cyber Losses
According to Shikha Goel, Director of the TGCSB, a total of 30,550 individuals were targeted by identity theft in 2024. The following year, in 2025, the number of people approaching the police dropped to 24,993. Mirroring this trend, the financial losses also saw a reduction, decreasing from Rs 218 crore in 2024 to Rs 152 crore in 2025.
However, the cumulative loss over the three-year period remains shockingly high. Officials have made some headway in enforcement, with 16 arrests made in connection with impersonation cases during this timeframe.
Anatomy of a Scam: How Fraudsters Operate
Director Goel explained a common modus operandi using a real-world example. A company was duped into making a payment of USD 74,844 (approximately Rs 62 lakh) to a fraudster. The scam began when the company received a revised proforma invoice from an email address that perfectly impersonated its genuine supplier. The deception was only uncovered later when the actual supplier disclosed that their email account had been hacked.
In another instance detailed by the bureau, a victim lost Rs 5.9 lakh to a KYC (Know Your Customer) fraud. The victim received a call from a person claiming to be a representative of a public sector bank, stating that a debit card KYC update was mandatory. Trusting the caller, the victim shared their debit card details, which led to an unauthorized transaction from their account.
The 'Fraud Ka Full Stop' Campaign and Mixed Trends
As part of a statewide awareness drive named 'Fraud Ka Full Stop,' where The Times of India is the official media partner, TGCSB officials are focusing public attention on five major cybercrime categories: identity theft, social media impersonation, OTP fraud, KYC updation scams, and fake customer care numbers.
The campaign's impact is visible in some areas. KYC fraud cases have seen a dramatic decline, with losses plummeting from Rs 23.7 crore last year to Rs 5.5 crore this year, attributed directly to increased public awareness.
However, other fraud types show worrying trends. Despite a decrease in complaints about social media impersonation, the amount of money lost has actually increased—from Rs 5.3 crore in 2024 to Rs 6.8 crore in 2025, indicating that while fewer people are falling prey, those who do are losing larger sums.
The police have issued a crucial advisory, urging the public to report cybercrime incidents at the earliest opportunity. Prompt reporting significantly improves the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions and recovering stolen funds.
