A Delhi-based cyber fraud network allegedly used Telugu-speaking women to make fake loan calls to victims across Telangana, with the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) busting three call centres and apprehending 21 women tele callers and a bank account holder.
The call centres, operating from Shiva Market in Delhi, allegedly posed as representatives of Bajaj Finance and offered victims attractive loan approvals before extracting money in the name of processing, verification, documentation and insurance charges.
TGCSB officials conducted coordinated raids on the three centres and apprehended the tele callers, aged between 20 and 42, along with a 30-year-old bank account holder. Three alleged organisers, identified as Lalith Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Anil, are absconding.
The network had reportedly been operating for around 18 months. Investigators found that the organisers specifically recruited Telugu-speaking women from various parts of Telangana, including Korutla in Jagtial district, Saidabad and Borabanda in Hyderabad and Mahabubnagar, to make the calls.
The women were allegedly trained to follow scripts while impersonating employees of Bajaj Finance. Their ability to speak Telugu was used to establish familiarity and gain the confidence of potential victims.
Once a victim showed interest in a loan, the callers allegedly demanded money under various pretexts, including loan processing fees, verification charges, documentation fees and insurance premiums. Even after receiving the money, they allegedly continued demanding additional payments or stopped responding altogether.
Investigators said the accused allegedly resorted to intimidation when victims questioned the transactions or sought refunds. They threatened some victims with legal action, reputational damage and misuse of personal information and identity documents, allegedly to prevent them from approaching the police.
TGCSB has so far linked the network to 22 cybercrime cases registered across Telangana, and the investigation is continuing. Officials seized 23 mobile phones and two bank passbooks during the operation.
The investigation is now focused on identifying the organisers, tracing the money trail and determining the full extent of the fraud.
The bureau cautioned people against trusting callers merely because they speak Telugu or another regional language, noting that cyber criminals increasingly use regional-language speakers to establish trust with potential victims.
It also advised people to independently verify loan offers and lending companies before paying any processing or verification charges. Victims of cyber fraud can contact 1930 or report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Published - August 10, 2026 07:29 pm IST