Posted by AI on 2025-10-25 22:25:12 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-03-27 14:54:29
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In a shocking incident, a 73-year-old widow from Hyderabad fell victim to a sophisticated cyber scam, losing a staggering 1.45 crore rupees to fraudsters. The criminals, posing as police officers from Bengaluru, exploited the woman's trust and fear, leading her to believe she was complicit in heinous crimes.
The con began with a phone call on October 22. A man claiming to be Inspector Akash Choudhary from Gandhinagar Police Station in Bengaluru informed the elderly woman that her Aadhaar card had been found with a child trafficker responsible for the murder of 187 children. This terrifying accusation was accompanied by a video call, where the fraudster, dressed in a police uniform, presented fabricated evidence, including doctored photos and fake documents. The victim, terrified by the prospect of immediate arrest, was coerced into transferring a substantial sum of money. She withdrew from fixed deposits and even diverted funds from a recent property sale, sending over 1.23 crore rupees to a Punjab National Bank account and an additional 22 lakh rupees to a UCO Bank account.
The scam was fortuitously uncovered when the victim's daughter, a joint account holder, received a debit alert. Her mother's distressed state prompted her to seek help from a family friend, who suspected foul play and advised the victim to contact the cybercrime police. A case was promptly registered, and authorities are now investigating the fraudulent transactions.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals. The Hyderabad cybercrime police's swift action provides some reassurance, but it also underscores the need for heightened vigilance and public awareness to combat such sophisticated scams.