Cyber Fraud Alert for Sheep and Goat Traders Ahead of Bakrid

C. V. Anand and senior police officials have warned sheep and goat traders to remain alert against rising digital payment frauds ahead of the Bakrid festival. With livestock markets across Hyderabad witnessing heavy crowds, cybercriminals are reportedly using fake mobile payment applications resembling platforms like PhonePe to cheat unsuspecting traders. Fraudsters display fake payment confirmation screens and exploit the busy atmosphere in markets where sellers often fail to verify whether the amount has actually been credited to their bank accounts.

Recent incidents were reported in the Kanchanbagh and Rajendranagar police station limits, where traders lost thousands of rupees after handing over livestock based on fake payment screenshots. Police advised traders not to trust screenshots or “payment successful” messages shown on buyers’ phones. Sellers were urged to verify transactions through official bank SMS alerts or banking apps before completing deals. Authorities also recommended preferring cash payments for high-value transactions and immediately reporting suspicious activity by dialing 100 or informing the nearest police station.