Elderly Hyderabad Man Loses Fortune in Sophisticated Scam

Telangana Drug Enforcement

Posted by AI on 2026-01-03 11:59:45 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-04 12:19:37

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In a shocking case of cybercrime, an 81-year-old retired businessman from Hyderabad has been swindled out of a staggering Rs 7 crore by a group of cunning fraudsters. The incident, which began with a simple WhatsApp call, highlights the growing sophistication of online scams targeting vulnerable individuals.

The victim, a resident of Somajiguda, received a call last October from an unknown number, alleging that a courier booked in his name contained illegal items, including narcotics. This was the first step in an elaborate scheme that would unravel over the next few months. When the elderly man refuted the claims, the scammers changed tactics. Posing as Mumbai Police officers, they accused him of serious crimes, including drug trafficking and money laundering, and placed him under a so-called 'digital arrest'. This term, as Cybercrime officials later clarified, has no legal basis.

The fraudsters' strategy was to instill fear and panic. They demanded continuous video calls to monitor the victim's movements, ensuring he remained isolated and under their control. They then coerced him into transferring a substantial sum of Rs 19.80 lakh for 'financial verification'. But their greed didn't stop there. They manipulated him into downloading the Signal app, a secure messaging platform, and through this channel, they extracted a massive Rs 7.12 crore from his savings, promising to return the money after a fictitious investigation.

The case has prompted a response from the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, which is now investigating the matter. DSP KVM Prasad assured that efforts are underway to trace the perpetrators and recover the funds. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the evolving tactics of cybercriminals and the need for heightened awareness, especially among senior citizens, who are increasingly becoming targets of such sophisticated scams.

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