Hyderabad: Reported financial losses from cybercrime in Telangana fell 20.2 per cent in January-September this year compared with the same nine months of 2025, the state cyber security bureau said, even as the amount placed under lien in fraudsters' accounts climbed sharply.
Losses stood at Rs 881.72 crore in the first nine months of 2026, down from Rs 1,104.42 crore a year earlier, a reduction of Rs 222.70 crore, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau director Shikha Goel said on Sunday. In contrast, the sum placed under lien in suspected fraud accounts rose 42.2 per cent to Rs 260.30 crore from Rs 183.11 crore, an increase of Rs 77.19 crore. Police said the higher lien figure pointed to faster reporting by victims and quicker coordinated action by banks and investigators.
The bureau linked the trend to sustained public outreach rather than a single drive. The month-long drive, which began on October 1, was designed to teach residents about new forms of online fraud, ways to avoid falling for them and safer digital habits, and closed with night flash walks by police units across the state on October 30 and 31.
Through the month, personnel ran sessions at educational institutions, in public spaces and at community gatherings. Special programmes were timed around Bathukamma, Navaratri and Dandiya events so that safety messages reached different sections of society.
Data shared by the bureau showed 24,886 awareness programmes conducted up to October, covering 15,48,905 citizens. October alone accounted for 4,248 programmes involving 2,78,428 participants. The bureau said it has adopted strategies built around specific fraud methods and victim groups, and runs initiatives including 'Online but Unafraid', 'Suraksha Ka Tiranga' and 'Pause. Think. Verify' under the 'Fraud ka Fullstop' banner.
Goel said awareness cannot be tied to one campaign or month, and that structured programmes involving police units across Telangana run through the year. Commissioners of police and superintendents of police took part in the closing night walks, she added, in a show of the force's commitment to fraud prevention.
Goel said the effort would not stop with the campaign. "We will intensify cyber awareness using the most advanced technology throughout the year, with a focus on emerging fraud methods and vulnerable groups." She urged citizens to report money lost to cyber fraud immediately on the 1930 helpline or the cybercrime.gov.in portal, and warned against sharing OTPs, PINs or passwords.
The bureau described the trend as an encouraging sign but said continued public vigilance and prompt reporting of incidents remain essential.
(With inputs from media reports)