Hyderabad. A 71-year-old retired government employee from Telangana was allegedly duped of more than ₹1.16 crore after cyber criminals posed as officials from TRAI, the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Enforcement Directorate, and placed him under prolonged fear of arrest in a fake money laundering investigation. The case was reported from Kapra in Hyderabad, where the victim was allegedly kept under video-call surveillance and made to transfer money in multiple phases.
Fraud Began With Fake TRAI Call
According to investigators, the victim received a phone call on January 27 from a person claiming to be an official of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The caller allegedly told him that a mobile number issued in his name was being used for illegal activities.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
When the retired employee denied any link with the number, the caller allegedly threatened him with legal consequences and claimed the matter was connected to a serious criminal investigation. Soon after, the victim was directed to interact with other accused persons who posed as Mumbai Crime Branch officials.
Through video calls, the fraudsters conducted what appeared to be official questioning and falsely claimed that the victim’s identity had surfaced in a money laundering network. During these interactions, they allegedly obtained his Aadhaar details and other personal documents.
Victim Kept Under Video-Call Surveillance
The accused allegedly kept the victim under continuous video-call monitoring in the name of a confidential investigation. He was repeatedly warned not to inform family members, friends or bank officials, with the fraudsters claiming that the matter involved national security concerns.
Under sustained pressure and fear of arrest, the retired employee was gradually made to disclose details of his savings, investments and bank accounts. Later, another person joined the calls while posing as an Enforcement Directorate official and claimed that the Ministry of Finance was verifying the victim’s accounts and assets.
The caller allegedly warned that the victim’s properties could be seized if he failed to cooperate. Using this pretext, the fraudsters persuaded him to follow their instructions and transfer money for what they described as an official verification process.
Multiple Transfers Made Between February and April
Between February and April, the accused allegedly induced the victim to transfer money to several bank accounts in multiple phases. On March 5, he was specifically instructed to transfer ₹60 lakh as part of what was described as an official operation, with an assurance that the money would be refunded after verification.
By the time the fraud came to light, ₹1,16,90,000 had allegedly been transferred. Of this, ₹76.90 lakh was taken from the victim’s personal account, while ₹40 lakh was withdrawn from his wife’s account.
After realising that he had been deceived and no official confirmation or refund had been received, the retired employee approached the cyber crime police. The Malkajgiri Cyber Crime Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, and began an investigation.
Cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said digital arrest frauds rely heavily on social engineering and psychological manipulation. He warned that no government agency conducts investigations through video calls while demanding money transfers for verification, and advised citizens to disconnect suspicious calls involving arrest threats, secrecy instructions or requests for financial details, and report such incidents to police or the national cyber helpline 1930.
