Hyderabad Ayurvedic Doctor Targeted in Sophisticated Loan App Extortion Scam
A 46-year-old Ayurvedic practitioner from Hyderabad's Sanath Nagar area has become the latest victim of a ruthless digital lending scam, losing over Rs 36 lakh to fraudsters operating through mobile applications. The cybercrime police have registered a formal case and launched a comprehensive investigation following the doctor's detailed complaint about systematic harassment and financial exploitation.
Deceptive Loan Apps and Unauthorized Transactions
The complainant revealed that he initially downloaded two applications from the Google Play Store in August 2025, identified as 'L*** Ra***' and 'Q**** F***s'. What began as legitimate small loans with prompt repayments quickly transformed into a nightmare scenario. The apps' operators started depositing substantial amounts into his bank account without seeking his permission, then demanded immediate repayment with exorbitant interest rates within an impossibly short timeframe.
"The interest charged is approximately 50%, and they deliberately credit only half of the promised amount while forcing victims to clear the entire sum within seven days," explained a police official familiar with the investigation. This predatory lending pattern created a debt trap that proved impossible to escape through conventional means.
Invasion of Privacy and Digital Blackmail
During the installation process, both applications requested extensive access permissions to the doctor's smartphone gallery and contact list. These permissions, which many users grant without full consideration of the consequences, became the foundation for the subsequent blackmail campaign. The fraudsters utilized the accessed photographs to create digitally altered images combining the victim's likeness with explicit content.
The harassment intensified dramatically beginning on the sixth day of each loan cycle, with threatening phone calls and messages demanding immediate payment. The perpetrators explicitly threatened to distribute the morphed photographs to everyone in the victim's contact list unless he complied with their financial demands. This psychological warfare caused severe mental distress to the Ayurvedic practitioner, who described feeling trapped and vulnerable throughout the ordeal.
Financial Devastation and Multiple Payments
Between September 2025 and February 2026, the fraudulent operators deposited approximately Rs 29 lakh into the doctor's bank account through unauthorized transactions. In response to the relentless threats and harassment, the victim made payments totaling over Rs 64.1 lakh to the scammers in a desperate attempt to stop the circulation of compromising material.
"I suffered a net financial loss exceeding Rs 36.1 lakh due to this elaborate scam. Furthermore, because of the suspicious transactions originating from the fraudsters, Rs 1.19 lakh has been placed on hold in my State Bank of India account," the victim informed investigating authorities. The financial impact extended beyond direct losses to include frozen assets and banking complications.
Police Intervention and Legal Framework
Even after clearing what he believed were all outstanding dues, including the inflated interest charges, the harassment continued unabated. This persistence ultimately compelled the Ayurvedic doctor to approach the Hyderabad cybercrime police and file a formal complaint. Law enforcement officials have registered a comprehensive case under multiple sections of contemporary digital and criminal legislation.
The case has been documented under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, which address identity theft and cheating by personation using computer resources. Additionally, authorities invoked Section 67A of the IT Act concerning publishing or transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts in electronic form. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions include Section 318(4) for cheating, Section 319(2) for cheating by personation, and Section 336(4) for forgery intended to harm reputation.
Broader Implications for Digital Lending Security
This incident highlights significant vulnerabilities in India's rapidly expanding digital lending ecosystem. The case demonstrates how seemingly legitimate financial applications can transform into instruments of extortion when combined with unauthorized data access and psychological manipulation techniques. Cybersecurity experts emphasize that such incidents are becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeting professionals across various sectors who may have substantial financial resources but limited digital literacy.
The Hyderabad cybercrime unit has intensified its probe to identify and apprehend the individuals behind these fraudulent applications. Investigators are examining digital footprints, transaction records, and communication patterns to trace the perpetrators who likely operate through multiple layers of digital obfuscation. This case serves as a stark reminder for all smartphone users to exercise extreme caution when granting application permissions, particularly to financial services that request access to personal data beyond basic identification requirements.
