Cyber Fraud Case: App Store India Head and Telegram Officials Arrested in Hyderabad

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Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have initiated legal action against representatives from the App Store and Telegram following two distinct cyber fraud cases reported in the city, involving financial losses totaling ₹21 lakh.

Case 1: 62-Year-Old Retired Resident

A 62-year-old retired resident of Somajiguda fell victim to an investment fraud in late June. The individual encountered a stock trading advertisement on Instagram, which led to contact with unidentified actors posing as Sonal Jagannath Naik and Kunal Sumaya. These individuals directed the victim to deposit funds into multiple bank accounts between June 30 and July 23, leveraging the perceived legitimacy of the App Store’s ecosystem. Initial virtual profits of ₹15,000 were displayed to build trust, though no further returns were provided.

Case 2: 59-Year-Old Homemaker

A separate case involved a 59-year-old homemaker from Almasguda, who lost ₹8.57 lakh through a deceptive online employment scheme. The victim clicked an Instagram ad offering remote work opportunities, which redirected her to a Telegram channel. Administrators under the names Aarohi Verma, Divya Mittal, and Sanjeev Kumar initially assigned low-risk tasks, such as rating Google business listings, to establish credibility. After earning small commissions totaling ₹9,670, the fraudsters transitioned the victim to high-yield “merchant order tasks” requiring upfront payments via UPI. A series of transactions between July 27 and July 28 resulted in a cumulative loss of ₹8.57 lakh without any returns.

Investigations and Legal Actions

Law Enforcement Measures

Law enforcement agencies in Telangana have escalated scrutiny of digital platforms facilitating such activities. Notices have been issued to Apple and Telegram, demanding the removal of the JBara application and associated communication channels. Investigators are requesting server logs, account registration data, IP address records, and financial transaction details to identify key operators of the schemes.

Regulatory and Financial Oversight

Concurrently, financial intelligence units are working to trace and freeze bank accounts linked to the fraudulent operations. The cases highlight ongoing challenges in addressing cybercrime through unregulated digital ecosystems. Authorities have emphasized the regulatory obligations of platforms hosting unverified applications or enabling unmonitored communication channels.

Challenges in Cybercrime Regulation

Platform Responsibilities

Authorities have emphasized the regulatory obligations of platforms hosting unverified applications or enabling unmonitored communication channels.

Future Implications

Further updates are expected as investigations progress.

According to law enforcement agencies, “The cases highlight ongoing challenges in addressing cybercrime through unregulated digital ecosystems. Authorities have emphasized the regulatory obligations of platforms hosting unverified applications or enabling unmonitored communication channels.”