Hyderabad Police Alert Citizens to Rising Gift Fraud Scams

Hyderabad's Cyber Police have sounded the alarm over a proliferation of gift fraud scams that deceive residents with enticing offers of complimentary gifts and lucrative rewards. The warning comes as part of the "Jagrut Hyderabad – Surakshit Hyderabad" public safety initiative.

The Cyber Crimes Unit cautioned the public through an official advisory about deceptive messages falsely informing recipients that they have won valuable gifts or monetary prizes. Authorities noted that perpetrators employ such tactics to extract both financial resources and confidential personal details from vulnerable individuals.

According to the advisory, scammers disseminate fraudulent offers via multiple channels including text messages, WhatsApp, email, and various social media networks. The schemes typically build artificial excitement and pressure before requesting processing charges, delivery costs, or claim settlement amounts from victims.

The scams are primarily designed to capture both financial resources and sensitive personal information from targets. To counter this threat, the Hyderabad Cyber Police recommended that residents authenticate gift offers exclusively through legitimate official channels and established trustworthy sources. Authorities emphasized that citizens should refrain from transferring any fees—whether for claims, processing, or delivery—related to prizes received through unsolicited communications.

The advisory specifically cautioned against disclosing one-time passwords (OTPs), banking credentials, CVV codes, login passwords, or any other confidential information. Cyber criminals frequently exploit such data to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts and perpetrate financial crimes.

Additionally, officials urged the public to avoid engaging with suspicious hyperlinks distributed across digital communication platforms. These fraudulent links often direct users to counterfeit websites designed specifically to harvest personal information.

The Cyber Crimes Unit emphasized that residents should approach unusually attractive offers with considerable skepticism, particularly when they appear too favorable to be genuine. Police also encouraged citizens to disseminate cyber safety information among their family networks and social circles, highlighting that community awareness represents a critical defense mechanism against online fraud and financial crimes.