6,848 people get back money lost to cyber fraud: Telangana cops recover Rs 53.5 crore

Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has facilitated the recovery of Rs 53.5 crore to 6,848 individuals during the second National Mega Lok Adalat of 2025, held across the state on Saturday.

Conducted in collaboration with the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, financial institutions, and district and city police units, the initiative marks one of the most significant single-day refund exercises in the country.

The effort reflects the State’s growing success in deploying fast-tracked legal coordination to tackle rising digital financial crimes, the government said in a public note.

Record single-day refunds

On June 14, refund orders totalling Rs 15.79 crore were issued, setting a new benchmark for single-day recoveries. This surpassed the Rs 14.3 crore disbursed during the first Mega Lok Adalat held on March 8 this year, which had benefited 3,527 victims in a day.

With the June round, total refunds processed under the Lok Adalat mechanism in 2025 have reached Rs 97.18 crore, aiding 11,832 cybercrime victims across Telangana.

Leading districts in refunds

Among the top-performing jurisdictions in the latest drive were:

Cyberabad Commissionerate – Rs 13.81 crore (2,997 cases)

Hyderabad Commissionerate – Rs 14.54 crore (782 cases)

Rachakonda Commissionerate – Rs 11.01 crore (1,005 cases)

TGCSB Headquarters – Rs 5.74 crore (172 cases)

Sangareddy – Rs 1.62 crore (163 cases)

Warangal – Rs 89 lakh (250 cases)

Since February 2024, cumulative cyber fraud refunds in Telangana through TGCSB-facilitated Lok Adalats have touched Rs 281.1 crore, benefitting over 30,000 victims.

A model for cybercrime justice

TGCSB’s Lok Adalat mechanism has become an institutional model for real-time coordination between police units, banks, and digital platforms, especially in handling UPI frauds, investment scams, and online financial thefts. This approach has enabled faster recovery and direct benefit transfer to victims, without prolonged litigation.

Public advisory

To prevent cyber fraud, TGCSB has urged the public to observe the following precautions:

Never share OTPs, passwords, or banking credentials with unknown individuals.

Verify customer care numbers only through official websites.

Avoid clicking on unverified links received via SMS, email, or social media.

Report cyber incidents immediately via the 1930 helpline or at www.cybercrime.gov.in for prompt action.

TGCSB reiterated its commitment to building a cyber-resilient Telangana by empowering victims, enhancing legal-tech integration, and fostering proactive cooperation among stakeholders.