Hyderabad Senior Citizen Loses ₹64 Lakh in Elaborate Police Impersonation Scam
In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 72-year-old housewife from Moulali, Hyderabad, was extorted of ₹64 lakh by criminals posing as Bengaluru police officials. The Malkajgiri Cyber Crime police have registered a formal case and initiated a comprehensive investigation into this sophisticated scam that exploited the victim's fear through forged legal documents.
How the Elaborate Fraud Unfolded
The complainant approached the Malkajgiri Cyber Crime police station on April 15, detailing a terrifying ordeal that began on March 25. The initial contact came from a fraudster identifying himself as Gaurav Sarathi of the Bengaluru Crime Branch. This individual falsely claimed that the victim's Aadhaar details had been misused to obtain multiple SIM cards, which were allegedly involved in various financial crimes across the country.
The scheme escalated when the victim was transferred to other accomplices who also pretended to be Crime Branch officials. "They threatened to arrest me and also my children if I did not co-operate for their investigation. I was specifically told not to reveal the ongoing investigation to anyone in the family," the traumatized victim told investigating officers.
Sophisticated Forged Documents Used to Intimidate
To make their threats appear legitimate, the fraudsters sent multiple fabricated documents to the elderly woman. These included:
- Images of a debit card fraudulently created in the victim's name
- Falsified bank statements showing transactions she never conducted
- A completely forged letter purportedly from the Supreme Court of India
These documents were designed to falsely implicate the senior citizen in serious criminal activities, creating immense psychological pressure to comply with the fraudsters' demands.
The Financial Drain and Eventual Realization
Operating under extreme fear and believing her family's safety was at risk, the victim transferred the staggering amount of ₹64 lakh in four separate transactions between March 30 and April 6. The money was sent to bank accounts provided by the accused individuals.
Even after exhausting the entire balance from her two bank accounts, the fraudsters continued to demand additional payments. "I finally told my son about the entire episode of money transfers and realized that it was a fraud. On his advice, we filed a police complaint," the victim explained in her statement to authorities.
Legal Action and Investigation Status
The Malkajgiri Cyber Crime police formally registered the case on Wednesday under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Investigators are now tracing the digital footprints and financial transactions to identify the perpetrators behind this elaborate scam.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of cyber criminals who exploit legal authority and family safety concerns to target vulnerable individuals, particularly senior citizens who may be less familiar with digital fraud tactics.
