States » SouthPosted at: Sep 30 2026 2:24PM


Telangana cyber police recover Rs 455 crore lost to cyber frauds in two years: Shikha Goel

Hyderabad, Sept 30 (UNI) Telangana cyber police have recovered Rs 455 crore lost to cyber frauds over the last two years, while nearly 60 per cent of financial losses suffered by cybercrime victims in the state are linked to stock-trading and business investment frauds, Shikha Goel, Principal Secretary to the Telangana government, said on Tuesday evening.
Speaking at a cybersecurity symposium organised by knowledge forum Symposium in collaboration with the Telangana State Police, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau and Cyberabad Police here, Goel warned that cybercriminals were increasingly exploiting human emotions, including fear, greed and trust, to defraud victims.
She said organised cybercrime networks had become increasingly sophisticated, with several operations being run from locations outside India, including Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
These networks operate across multiple locations and time zones, making it difficult for investigators to identify and apprehend their masterminds.
The syndicates also operate sophisticated call centres where individuals communicate in the languages of their targets to gain their trust and manipulate them into transferring money, she said.
Goel urged citizens to exercise caution and verify information before making financial transactions, stressing that awareness and sound judgement were essential to preventing cyber fraud.
The symposium, titled “Conversation on Cybersecurity: When Trust Becomes the Weapon – The New Battle for the Human Mind”, brought together cybersecurity experts, police officials and cyber-law specialists.
More than 200 people attended the programme.
Air Vice Marshal (Dr) Devesh Vatsa, Cyber Security and Critical Technologies Advisor to the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and a former Indian Air Force officer, moderated the discussion.
Drawing an analogy from the Ramayana, he described the Lakshman Rekha as an original firewall designed to protect against threats.
He said cybercriminals exploited emotions such as greed, fear and desire, adding that the weaponisation of trust was emerging as a significant cybersecurity challenge.
He also emphasised the need for sustained public awareness during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, observed annually in October.
Supreme Court advocate and cyber-law expert Pavan Duggal cautioned against excessive dependence on artificial intelligence (AI), urging people to retain their ability to think critically, question information and make independent decisions.
He called for clear legal frameworks governing AI and deepfakes, highlighting the need for accountability in cases involving AI-related harm.
He also referred to the draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Courts, 2026, prepared under the aegis of the Supreme Court's AI Committee, which seek to provide a framework for responsible AI use while retaining human and judicial oversight.
Duggal warned that treating AI-generated information as unquestionable could undermine independent thinking and stressed the importance of preserving human judgement as technology advances.
Jiten Jain, cybersecurity expert and CEO of the Indian Infosec Consortium, urged citizens to treat their mobile numbers as sensitive personal information and avoid sharing them routinely while shopping or making purchases.
He said phone numbers could become entry points for social-engineering attempts and identity-related fraud, and advised people to question why their personal information was being collected and how it might be used.
Cybersecurity enthusiast and ethical hacker Shubhank Singhai highlighted the growing threat posed by social engineering, impersonation, cloned voices and AI-generated content.
He said cyberattacks increasingly relied on manipulating victims through phone calls, messages and familiar-looking identities rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities alone.
A key highlight of the programme was the unveiling of public-interest cybersecurity videos and awareness material prepared in collaboration with the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau.
The initiative has helped create awareness among nearly 2.95 lakh pensioners and more than three lakh serving employees across Telangana.
The awareness material will be distributed further through gazetted officers associated with Symposium's collaborations to reach a wider section of the public.
A paper documenting discussions and insights from the previous edition of the symposium was also presented to Goel.
Symposium Managing Trustee Shruti Mallpani said the initiative aimed to promote public conversations on emerging cyber threats and help citizens make safer decisions in the digital environment.
She emphasised that human judgement remained central to cybersecurity.
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