Hyderabad: The Cyberabad Cyber Crime Police on Friday, April 17, arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly running “digital arrest” scams from Cambodia, defrauding Indian citizens of nearly Rs 24 lakh over two months earlier this year.
The accused, Gajarla Avinash, a native of Katlakunta village in Jagtial district, had initially travelled to Cambodia on the pretext of a data entry job, the police said. Upon arrival, he was coerced into joining an organised cybercrime operation, but subsequently continued to participate in the fraudulent activities of his own volition.
Avinash, according to police, impersonated law enforcement officials and made threatening calls to victims across India, falsely implicating them in criminal cases to extort money. The funds were siphoned through mule bank accounts based in India, with the proceeds distributed among the network’s members as commission.
During January and February 2026, approximately Rs 24 lakh were fraudulently transacted and withdrawn in this manner.
He was arrested under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Cyberabad.
Investigators seized a mobile phone, a passport and cash amounting to Rs 12 lakh from the accused.
“The accused has confessed to his role in the offence,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) T Sai Manohar. Further investigation is underway to identify additional victims, trace the full money trail and nab other members of the international fraud network, he added.
Digital arrest scams, where callers posing as police, CBI or customs officials psychologically coerce victims into staying on a video call for hours while demanding money, have emerged as one of the more sophisticated cybercrime threats targeting Indians in recent years, with many such operations traced to South and Southeast Asian crime hubs.
The Cyberabad police have urged citizens not to act on unsolicited calls from persons claiming to be law enforcement officials, and to report such incidents to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930.
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