Telangana Warns of Rising Cyber Frauds During Sankranti Festival
January 9, 2026
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has issued a warning about a sharp rise in cyber frauds during the Sankranti festival. Cybercriminals are targeting people with fake Sankranti offers, discounts, and cashback links shared on WhatsApp, SMS, and social media. Fake websites for bus, train, flight, and cruise bookings are on the rise. Scam messages promising Sankranti gifts, prize money, or lucky draws are spreading fast. There are also bogus online shopping links showing festival deals at suspiciously low prices. Fake instant loan or easy credit offers have been reported as well. Officials noted many fraudulent links come from trusted contacts and family groups, making them look genuine and increasing risk for victims. The bureau strongly advised people to avoid clicking on unknown festival offers or links received via messaging apps or social media. They urged victims to report fraud immediately by calling the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 or filing a complaint on the cybercrime reporting portal. According to the bureau, early reporting during the “golden hour” raises chances of stopping financial loss and speeding up police action.
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Tags:
Cyber fraud
Sankranti Scams
Online Scams
Cyber security
Telangana
Festival Frauds
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