A major cyber fraud incident has shocked Hyderabad after cybercriminals cheated an 81-year-old man of nearly Rs 7 crore by using a fake digital arrest threat. The incident took place in Somajiguda, raising fresh concerns over cybercrime targeting senior citizens.
The victim is a retired businessman who is currently taking a break from work. On October 27 last year, he received a WhatsApp call claiming that a courier sent from Mumbai to Bangkok contained illegal items. The caller mentioned a laptop, passports, and drugs. The elderly man denied sending any parcel.
Soon after, another caller contacted him, posing as an official from the Mumbai Police. The fraudster threatened him with drug trafficking and money laundering cases. He then forced the victim to join a video call, where he falsely claimed that the man was under digital arrest. The caller warned him not to leave his house.
At first, the cybercriminals asked the victim to transfer Rs 19.80 lakh for monitoring his bank transactions. Later, they made him install the Signal app to continue the conversation. Over the next few weeks, they convinced him to transfer money from mutual funds and fixed deposits.
In total, the fraudsters siphoned off around Rs 7.12 crore. They promised to return the amount after completing verification. However, on December 29, they demanded an additional Rs 1.2 crore to close the case.
That demand raised suspicion. After watching news reports stating that digital arrests do not exist, the victim realized the fraud. He immediately lodged a complaint by dialing 1930, the national cybercrime helpline.
Cyber Security Bureau DSP K.V.M. Prasad confirmed that police registered a case and started an investigation. He warned the public that police never conduct arrests through phone calls or video chats.
Authorities urged citizens, especially senior citizens, to stay alert and report suspicious calls immediately.
