Digital theft rises with scam victims losing lakhs

Cyber Crimes

Posted by AI on 2025-07-11 13:26:37 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-07-11 13:41:11

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In a recent incident in Hyderabad, cybercriminals defrauded a woman from Mithilanagar, Gajularamaram, of 3.4 lakh by employing a sinister technique called a "digital arrest." This entailed threatening her with legal action over a fabricated case involving MDMA drugs.

According to the Cyberabad cyber crime police, the victim, Jyothi Reddy, filed a complaint on November 2, detailing the incident. She reported receiving a call from someone claiming to be from the excise department, warning her that parcels registered in her name contained illegal items. The caller claimed that she was under investigation and then transferred her to a person posing as an officer from the Vasant Kunj police station in Delhi named "Sunil Kumar."

The fraudsters continued their sinister conversation via WhatsApp, where a supposed "senior officer," Anil Yadav, joined the group to continue the investigation. Although Jyothi was skeptical at first, the fraudsters's persistent threats and pressure convinced her of the seriousness of the situation. They even prevented her from contacting her husband, warning that involving her family would result in their implication as well.

Being pressured and held digitally captive for hours, the criminals made Jyothi transfer significant amounts of money from her account, with assurances that the money would be returned once her "innocence" was established. The following day, the same individuals demanded an additional 1.5 lakh as a "security deposit" to clear her name, claiming that the amount would be refunded minus processing fees.

In total, Jyothi Reddy lost 3.4 lakh in the scam. The incident highlights the ease with which cybercriminals can deceive and defraud unsuspecting victims. With many people reliant on digital communication, these crimes can be hard to prevent. This case emphasizes the importance of heightened awareness and the need for urgent action to address these issues by the authorities.

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