With Christmas and New Year celebrations approaching, the cyber crime wing of the Hyderabad police issued a public advisory warning citizens to remain extra vigilant, cautioning that fraudsters often exploit festive cheer and increased online activity to target unsuspecting victims.
The police said cyber criminals are adopting newer and more deceptive methods during the holiday season, when people are more likely to shop online, book travel and attend events. Citizens have been advised to avoid clicking on unknown links received through SMS, WhatsApp, emails or social media from unverified sources.
The advisory highlighted several common fraud patterns reported during the festive period, including lottery, gift and lucky draw messages claiming that recipients have won Christmas or New Year prizes and demanding processing fee or personal details. Police also warned against fake New Year party and concert passes being sold through counterfeit websites and social media pages, as well as fraudulent travel and holiday package offers that disappear after collecting advance payments.
Other reported scams include fake hotel and resort bookings for New Year stays, bogus cab and vehicle rental services seeking advance payments, and donation appeals circulated in the name of Christmas charity, churches or orphanages using fake accounts and UPI IDs. The police further cautioned against fake links offering church event or midnight Mass passes, seasonal employment and part-time job offers related to event management, delivery, promotion work, or hotel services, demanding registration fee, and messages claiming refunds, cashbacks or festival discounts that prompt users to click links or share sensitive information.
As part of preventive measures, the police urged people not to share OTPs, PINs, CVV numbers or bank details with anyone, and to verify bookings and offers only through official or trusted platforms, and to avoid scanning unknown QR codes or approving unsolicited UPI requests. Citizens were also advised to enable two-factor authentication, keep their devices and applications updated, and discuss cyber safety with family members, particularly senior citizens and young users.
In case of fraud, victims have been asked to immediately report the incident on the national cybercrime portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in or contact the Cyber Crime Helpline by dialling 1930 without delay. The police have also advised victims to preserve evidence such as screenshots, transaction details and phone numbers to aid investigation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crimes, Hyderabad City, V. Aravind Babu, said timely reporting plays a crucial role in preventing further losses and helping law enforcement take swift action against offenders.
Published – December 17, 2025 09:34 pm IST
