An elderly woman in Hyderabad has become the latest victim of a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme, losing a staggering sum of Rs 18.5 lakh to criminals impersonating law enforcement officials. The incident, which involved a tactic known as 'digital arrest,' has prompted action from the city's cybercrime police.
The Deceptive Call and False Allegations
On November 24, the 83-year-old resident of King Koti received a disturbing phone call. The caller identified himself as Ravi Kumar from a fictitious entity called the 'Protection Board of India.' He delivered alarming news, claiming that a money-laundering First Information Report (FIR) had been registered against the senior citizen.
The fraudster then instructed the terrified woman to contact a supposed 'sub-inspector' at Mumbai's Colaba Police Station. This marked the beginning of an elaborate and psychologically taxing scheme designed to extract her life savings.
Six Days of Psychological Pressure and Forged Evidence
For the next six days, the criminals maintained a relentless grip on their victim. They conducted daily video calls, during which they presented her with forged documents and photographs of alleged suspects. The fraudsters constructed a convincing narrative, alleging that crores of rupees had been illegally moved through a Canara Bank account opened in her name using her Aadhaar details.
Throughout this harrowing ordeal, they repeatedly warned her not to disclose any details of the supposed 'probe' to anyone, isolating her from potential sources of help. Simultaneously, they pressured her into revealing confidential information about her life savings, setting the stage for the financial theft.
The Financial Drain and Eventual Police Complaint
Under immense pressure and fearing legal consequences, the octogenarian complied with the fraudsters' demands. On November 28, she transferred Rs 15 lakh to an Axis Bank account located in Bhiwandi. The very next day, on November 29, she sent another Rs 3.5 lakh to a Karur Vysya Bank account in Coimbatore.
The scam only unraveled when the criminals, emboldened by their success, persisted with further monetary demands. This finally prompted the victim to break her silence. On November 30, she contacted the national cyber-fraud helpline 1930. She subsequently formally approached the Hyderabad Cybercrime police on Monday, December 2.
Following her complaint, the police have registered a formal case. The charges have been filed under Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act, which deal with identity theft and cheating by personation using computer resources, along with relevant provisions of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
This case highlights the alarming trend of 'digital arrest' scams targeting vulnerable citizens across India. It serves as a critical reminder for the public, especially seniors, to be extremely cautious of unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be government or law enforcement officials demanding money.
