- By Priyanka Koul
- Sat, 31 Jan 2026 03:44 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hyderabad: A 27-year-old Rapido driver was arrested in Hyderabad on Wednesday for tricking people into believing he was a cybercrime officer and extorting money from them.
The suspect, Jala Sai Ram Reddy, originally from Karimnagar district in Telangana, was detained by officers at the S R Nagar Police Station. According to an NDTV report, Reddy created fake profiles of women on social media, mainly on ShareChat, to deceive his victims. He began messaging people, gradually earning their trust.
"After building their trust through chats, he collected their phone numbers. He then called them, impersonating a cybercrime officer, and threatened them with arrest," said S V Raghavendra Rao, Assistant Commissioner of Police, S R Nagar Division.
Out of fear, many victims transferred money via UPI and other online payment methods, believing it to be an official fine. To destroy digital evidence, the accused also instructed them to reset their mobile phones.
In one instance, a student was defrauded of nearly Rs 1 lakh after being threatened by the accused. The victim subsequently filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which assisted the police in tracking and apprehending the suspect.
During questioning, Reddy reportedly admitted his involvement in the fraudulent activities. Further investigation revealed he was connected to 44 cybercrime cases across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Investigators revealed that Reddy had used various SIM cards, mobile phones, bank accounts, and UPI scanners. He also exploited the bank accounts of shopkeepers to funnel the stolen money.
Police described him as a repeat offender who used false identities and fear tactics to scam people.
ALSO READ: 'When Ajit Pawar Was Alive...': Sanjay Raut Terms BJP A Hindrance In Merger Of Two NCP Factions
ACP Raghavendra Rao cautioned the public, stating that the police never ask for money over phone calls or digital platforms. He also highlighted that "digital arrests" have no legal basis.
The public is urged to report any such fraudulent calls immediately to the nearest police station or through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.