A 68-year-old woman from Hyderabad was allegedly cheated of ₹21 lakh by cybercriminals who threatened her with a fake “digital arrest”, impersonated police and CBI officials and subjected her to an interrogation over video calls.
The woman, a resident of R.K. Puram Colony, had been living alone since her husband’s death. The fraud allegedly began on September 1 when she received a call from a man who identified himself as a telecom official named Prasad.
Fraudsters Posed as Police and CBI Officials
After the initial call, another man identified as Rajesh Kumar introduced himself as a legal adviser. The woman was allegedly told that her name was linked to illegal activities and that she could be arrested.
Officials said the fraudsters posed as police and CBI officials and conducted a fake interrogation through video calls. They allegedly kept the woman under psychological pressure by repeatedly threatening her with arrest.
Fearing the consequences of the claims made against her, the woman followed the instructions given by the callers.
Woman Transferred ₹21 Lakh to Bank Accounts
The woman eventually transferred ₹21 lakh to bank accounts provided by the cybercriminals, according to the report.
The fraudsters allegedly continued threatening her even after receiving the money and demanded that she make further transfers.
The woman informed her son about the situation on September 5 after the demands continued. Her son subsequently approached the Cybercrime police and lodged a complaint on Sunday.
Police Investigate Accounts Used in Fraud
Police have launched an investigation into the alleged fraud and are examining the bank accounts used to receive the ₹21 lakh.
Investigators are probing how the woman was targeted and the accounts through which the money was transferred. The case involved a combination of impersonation, threats of arrest and video-call interrogation, with the accused allegedly using claims of illegal activities to pressure the woman into transferring the money.
