A 32-year-old woman in Bengaluru fell victim to an elaborate cyber fraud, losing nearly Rs 60 lakh after fraudsters impersonating police officers manipulated her into taking multiple loans. The incident began with a frightening phone call on December 17, 2025, through the messaging app Telegram.
The Scam Unfolds
According to the complaint filed by the woman, a resident of Ganganagar in north Bengaluru, the caller introduced himself as a police officer from Mumbai. He claimed that the woman's identity proof had been misused in illegal advertisements and harassment calls, and that serious action would be taken against her. To make the threat appear authentic, the fraudsters shared a random mobile phone number and a bank account number, alleging that these were being used for illegal activities and had been traced using her Aadhaar card.
On the pretext of arresting her, the fraudsters instructed her to cooperate with a virtual investigation and not inform anyone about the call. They sent several links through Telegram and directed her to click on them. Once she opened the links, her mobile phone was hacked, and the fraudsters gained access to her personal information and data stored on the device.
Pressure and Threats
Multiple individuals spoke to her over the phone, threatening to expose her personal details and implicate her in criminal activities unless she paid money. Under immense pressure and fear of her personal data being leaked, the woman agreed to pay but said she would need to take loans. The fraudsters then sent her multiple links to download quick-loan applications and forced her to take loans to make the payments.
As the debt mounted, the victim began taking fresh loans to repay earlier ones. Between December 17, 2025, and January 20, 2026, she paid a total of Rs 60 lakh to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. The woman told police that she still has an outstanding debt of around Rs 15 lakh.
Ongoing Harassment
Adding to her ordeal, recovery agents linked to the loan apps continue to call her and send messages to her relatives, friends, and colleagues. They have also visited her house to pressure her for repayment. The case highlights the growing threat of cyber frauds that exploit victims' fears and manipulate them into financial ruin.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement officers and to verify such claims through official channels before taking any action.
