Hyderabad Senior Citizen Defrauded of ₹24.9 Lakh in Elaborate Digital Arrest Scam
A 68-year-old retired teacher residing in the Madhapur area of Hyderabad has become the latest victim of a sophisticated digital arrest scam, losing a staggering sum of ₹24.9 lakh to fraudsters impersonating government officials. The Cyberabad Cyber Crime police have registered a formal case based on her detailed complaint, highlighting a concerning trend of such elaborate cons targeting vulnerable citizens.
The Deceptive Call and False Allegations
The distressing episode began on January 31st when the victim received an unsolicited call from an individual identifying himself as Rahul Kumar, a UIDAI official. The caller falsely informed her that the Mumbai High Court had issued a warrant against her in connection with alleged drug-trafficking activities. This shocking and fabricated claim was the initial hook designed to instill fear and confusion.
A Coordinated Web of Deceit
After collecting her personal details, the initial caller transferred her line to several accomplices. Each subsequent fraudster introduced themselves as investigators from the Mumbai Cyber Crime unit, creating a facade of official legitimacy. Over multiple conversations held between January 31st and February 4th, the criminal gang spun an intricate web of lies.
They convinced the terrified retiree that ₹97,000 had already been illicitly withdrawn from a savings account linked to her Aadhaar number and converted into black money. To clear her name and classify her remaining funds as white money, they insisted she needed to move her entire account balance into two specified current accounts for verification.
Coercion and Financial Loss
The impostors employed severe psychological pressure, threatening the victim with a mandatory six-month prison term and heavy fines if she disclosed the matter to anyone, including family or real authorities. Under this duress, and fearing legal repercussions, the victim complied. Between January 31st and February 4th, she transferred the entire ₹24.9 lakh from her account to the different bank accounts provided by the accused.
Following the completion of the transfers, the fraudsters abruptly severed all communication. After anxiously waiting for three days with no response or resolution, the victim finally gathered the courage to approach the Cyberabad Cyber Crime police on February 7th to report the crime.
Police Action and Public Advisory
Based on her formal complaint, the police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Authorities are investigating the money trail and the accounts used in the fraud.
In light of this incident, the Cyber Crime police have issued a stern public advisory, urging extreme caution:
- Be highly skeptical of unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement, tax, or bank officials.
- Never share personal details, bank account information, or OTPs over the phone.
- Genuine government agencies do not demand immediate money transfers or threaten arrest over the phone.
- If you suspect you are being targeted by fraudsters, immediately contact the national Cyber Crime helpline at ‘1930’ without delay.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals to exploit trust and fear. Citizens, especially seniors, are advised to verify any such alarming calls independently through official channels before taking any action.
