Hyderabad Senior Citizens Lose ₹61 Lakh in Digital Arrest Scams
Two senior citizens from Hyderabad lost more than ₹61 lakh to fraudsters who posed as law enforcement officials. Police reported these two separate digital arrest cases on Tuesday.
Retired Professor Loses ₹55.3 Lakh
A 75-year-old retired university professor living in Boduppal filed the first complaint. He received a call on November 15, 2025. The caller claimed to work for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
The man alleged the professor's mobile number was linked to illegal advertising activities. He said an FIR was registered in Maharashtra for this offense.
Over the following days, several impostors contacted the elderly man. They pretended to be chief investigation officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation. These fraudsters told the professor that a human trafficker named Sadakat Khan had opened bank accounts using the complainant's name for money laundering purposes.
During video calls, they showed forged Supreme Court documents to the victim. They ordered him not to reveal any details about the investigation to anyone. They cited national security concerns as the reason for this secrecy.
The fraudsters also forced the victim to transfer funds from his bank accounts. They claimed this money was necessary for government verification procedures. Fearing arrest, the professor complied with their demands.
Between November 15 and December 2, the victim transferred over ₹55.3 lakh to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. When they kept asking for more money, he finally consulted his well-wishers. They helped him realize he was being scammed.
Based on his complaint, Malkajgiri cybercrime police registered a case on Tuesday. They filed charges under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
Retired Scientific Officer Loses ₹5.85 Lakh
In another case, a 62-year-old retired scientific officer from Kukatpally approached Cyberabad police. He stated that on January 3, he received multiple calls from people pretending to be officials.
Some callers claimed to be from Indiranagar police station in Bengaluru. Others presented themselves as CBI investigators. They made serious allegations against the retired officer.
The fraudsters told him that 189 bank accounts were opened using his Aadhaar credentials. They said multiple SIM cards were also obtained with his personal information. They claimed all this was done by Sadakat Khan, a suspect in human trafficking and money laundering cases.
Gang members wearing police uniforms made WhatsApp video calls to the victim. They showed fake Supreme Court orders during these calls. Using these forged documents, they coerced him into transferring money.
The fraudsters said the funds were needed for temporary scrutiny procedures. On January 6, the victim transferred over ₹5.85 lakh to a bank account they provided. The scammers promised to return the amount after completing their verification process.
When the fraudsters failed to return the money as promised, the victim realized he had been cheated. He approached the cybercrime police of Cyberabad on Tuesday to file a complaint.
Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. They are now investigating both incidents as serious cyber fraud cases targeting senior citizens.
These cases highlight a growing trend of digital arrest scams across India. Fraudsters are increasingly targeting elderly citizens who may be less familiar with technology. They use sophisticated tactics including forged documents and official-looking uniforms to appear legitimate.
Authorities advise citizens to be cautious of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be government officials. Genuine law enforcement agencies never demand money transfers for verification or investigation purposes over phone calls.
