Hyderabad police warn of AI biometric scam in public places; Don’t help strangers with their phones

Officials said fraudsters typically pose as elderly or middle-aged individuals in crowded public places such as malls, metro stations, markets, and other busy areas.

Hyderabad: The Cyber Crimes Wing of the Hyderabad Police has issued a public alert cautioning citizens about a new and dangerous form of fraud, AI-based biometric scams, where criminals attempt to capture a person’s facial and voice data for misuse.

According to police, the emerging scam does not just target money, but a victim’s digital identity, making it more alarming and potentially far-reaching in consequences.

How the scam operates

Officials said fraudsters typically pose as elderly or middle-aged individuals in crowded public places such as malls, metro stations, markets, and other busy areas.

They approach unsuspecting people seeking “small help”, such as checking pension or subsidy status, fixing a mobile app, or operating a smartphone, claiming they are not tech-savvy.

Unbeknownst to the helper, the fraudster’s phone may already be on a live video call or screen recording mode with necessary permissions enabled. Accomplices on the other end can instantly capture the helper’s face and voice data.

Police warned that within seconds, this biometric data can be recorded and later misused to create AI-generated impersonations.

Potential misuse of captured data

Cybercrime officials cautioned that such data could be exploited for:

AI-based impersonation scams

Social engineering attacks

Bypassing identity verification systems

Fraudulent financial or digital transactions

Since facial recognition and voice authentication are increasingly used in banking and online services, misuse of such biometric data could lead to serious consequences.

Safety advisory issued

The Cyber Crimes Wing has issued the following precautions:

Do not operate or handle unknown persons’ mobile phones.

Avoid looking into unknown video calls or following strangers’ instructions.

Remain cautious when approached for “quick help” in crowded public places.

Educate family members, especially elders and children, about such tactics.

What to do in case of suspicion

Citizens who suspect cyber fraud or believe they have become victims are advised to immediately call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or lodge a complaint at the official portal: www.cybercrime.gov.in.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crimes) V. Arvind Babu urged the public to stay vigilant and protect their digital identity.

“Be alert, stay safe, and safeguard your biometric data,” he said.

The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have also asked citizens to follow their official social media handles for regular updates and awareness messages.