A 68-year-old farmer from Secunderabad, Hyderabad, has become the latest victim of a sophisticated 'digital arrest' scam, losing a staggering sum of Rs 5.4 lakh to fraudsters impersonating high-ranking police and central agency officials. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime police have now registered a case and initiated a search to track down the culprits.
The Elaborate Web of Deception
The distressing episode began on November 14, when the complainant, a resident of Mahendra Hills, received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as Inspector Sunil from the Delhi Police and delivered a terrifying message: an arrest warrant had been issued against the senior citizen in a fabricated money-laundering case.
The plot thickened soon after when a second fraudster entered the scene, this time posing as a CBI officer. To add a veneer of legitimacy to their threats, the con artists shared forged documents with the victim. These included fake Supreme Court arrest orders and a counterfeit letter purportedly from the Reserve Bank of India, which they claimed was needed to 'verify' his bank accounts.
Coercion and Financial Drain
Living under the constant threat of immediate arrest and imprisonment, the frightened farmer was systematically coerced into liquidating his hard-earned savings. Bowing to the pressure, on November 24, he transferred Rs 5 lakh via RTGS to a bank account specified by the fraudsters. The deception did not stop there.
Four days later, on November 28, he was persuaded to send an additional Rs 40,000 through a UPI transaction. The criminals assured him that the entire amount would be refunded within three days, a promise that was, of course, entirely false. To ensure their scheme remained undiscovered, the fraudsters warned the victim not to discuss the matter with anyone, invoking the serious pretext of national security.
The Realization and Police Action
When the promised refund never materialized and the callers abruptly stopped responding, the victim finally realized he had been cheated. He gathered the courage to approach the Hyderabad Cyber Crime police on December 23 to file an official complaint.
Based on his detailed account, the police have registered a case under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act. Furthermore, charges have been invoked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to organised crime, extortion, cheating, personation, and forgery. Authorities have confirmed that active efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused individuals behind this cruel scam.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals to exploit fear and trust. Citizens are urged to exercise extreme caution with unsolicited calls, especially those claiming to be from law enforcement agencies demanding money.
