A 69-year-old retired central government employee from Miyapur, Hyderabad, was defrauded of Rs 60 lakh by individuals posing as law enforcement officials. The fraudsters threatened him with arrest in a fabricated money laundering case, prompting the Cyberabad cyber crime police to register a case and initiate an investigation.
The Scam Unfolds
On March 24, the victim received a phone call from individuals claiming to be officers of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in Lucknow. They informed him that a case had been registered against him related to a money laundering probe involving Rs 2.55 crore. The callers further alleged that Rs 11 lakh had been transferred to a bank account opened in his name using his Aadhaar details in Hubli, Karnataka.
The victim denied having any such account and stated that he had never visited Karnataka. However, the fraudsters threatened him with arrest and demanded he appear before the ATS in Lucknow. Under duress, the victim transferred Rs 60 lakh in multiple transactions between April 2 and April 18 to various bank accounts provided by the accused.
Victim Grows Suspicious
When the fraudsters continued to demand more money, the victim became suspicious and approached the police on April 24. Based on his complaint, the Cyberabad cyber crime police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber frauds targeting senior citizens. Police advise citizens to verify any such claims through official channels and never transfer money to unknown accounts under pressure.
