An 80-year-old retired bank manager and his wife from Hyderabad have allegedly lost their entire life savings of more than ₹1.5 crore after cybercriminals impersonated police officials and threatened them with arrest in a fabricated money laundering case.
The fraudsters used forged legal documents, video calls and intimidation to convince the elderly couple to transfer their savings into two bank accounts. Malkajgiri Police have registered a case and begun investigating the transactions.
How Did the Digital Arrest Scam Begin?
The fraud began on October 19 when the retired banker received a telephone call from individuals identifying themselves as Umesh Verma and RK Chaudari.
The callers claimed to represent Mumbai-based Data Protection India Limited and alleged that the victim’s Aadhaar details were connected to a mobile number involved in money laundering and anti-national activities.
The allegations were used to frighten the complainant into cooperating with the callers.
How Did Fraudsters Impersonate Police?
The victim subsequently received a WhatsApp video call from another individual introducing himself as Sandeep Rao, an inspector with the Mumbai Cybercrime Branch.
The impersonator claimed that a criminal case had been registered against the elderly man and that the CBI was investigating the matter.
He instructed the victim to maintain secrecy and allegedly threatened to arrest his children if he disclosed the conversation.
How Were Fake Documents Used?
To strengthen their claims, the fraudsters sent several forged documents, including a purported Mumbai Police case record and an Enforcement Directorate asset-freezing notice.
They also supplied a supposed arrest warrant and a court order carrying the National Emblem, along with a fabricated RBI directive concerning asset verification. The documents were allegedly used to convince the couple that immediate financial cooperation was necessary.
How Was ₹1.5 Crore Transferred?
The fraudsters threatened to arrest the couple and pressured them into disclosing their bank balances.
Between October 23 and 27, the victims transferred more than ₹1.5 crore through six transactions into two bank accounts. The accused assured them that the funds would be returned after verification. However, the callers stopped responding after receiving the money.
What Action Have Police Taken?
The couple informed their son on October 28 and subsequently approached Malkajgiri Police.
Investigators registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita dealing with cheating, impersonation, forgery, extortion and criminal breach of trust, along with relevant Information Technology Act provisions.
The case highlights how forged documents and threats of arrest can be used to deceive even experienced banking professionals. Citizens should independently verify suspicious calls claiming police authority and never transfer money for supposed investigation or asset verification.
