Three separate cyber fraud cases in Hyderabad have resulted in combined losses of ₹5.35 crore, with criminals using fake WhatsApp messages impersonating a company chief executive officer (CEO), threats of a money laundering investigation under the guise of a ‘digital arrest’, and fraudulent investment offers on social media to target victims. Police have urged citizens to verify suspicious calls, messages and investment proposals independently before making financial transactions.
According to police, cybercriminals are constantly evolving their methods to deceive people and exploit their trust. Public awareness, caution and timely verification of financial instructions are essential to reducing the risk of substantial monetary losses.
Accountant Duped of ₹2.70 Crore Through Fake CEO Messages
In the first case, an accountant at a company allegedly opened an unidentified ZIP file and subsequently received fraudulent WhatsApp messages purportedly sent by the company’s CEO. Trusting the messages, the accountant transferred ₹2.70 crore.
According to police, the fraud remained undetected for nearly eight days. During this period, bank transaction alerts were reportedly being generated, but the suspected fraud was not identified in time.
The incident highlights the risks of trusting messages that appear to come from senior executives or familiar individuals without independent verification. Cybercriminals can impersonate people in positions of authority to manipulate employees into transferring large sums of money.
Authorities advise individuals to verify unusual financial instructions directly with the purported sender through a separate, trusted communication channel before acting on them. Unknown files and suspicious attachments should also be treated with caution.
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72-Year-Old Woman Loses ₹2.12 Crore After 20-Day ‘Digital Arrest’
In the second case, a 72-year-old woman was allegedly defrauded of ₹2.12 crore after fraudsters threatened to implicate her in a money laundering case. The accused reportedly impersonated officials of agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
According to police, the fraudsters subjected the woman to a so-called ‘digital arrest’ for approximately 20 days, threatening her with arrest and legal proceedings. The pressure allegedly became so severe that she was forced to sell her gold jewellery.
In digital arrest scams, criminals pose as police officers or officials of investigative agencies during phone or video calls. They intimidate victims by claiming their involvement in criminal activities and threaten them with arrest or legal consequences. Victims are then pressured to remain in constant contact with the fraudsters and transfer money under the pretext of investigation or financial verification.
Doctor Loses ₹52.51 Lakh After Instagram Investment Advertisement
In the third case, a doctor who returned to Hyderabad after working abroad allegedly lost ₹52.51 lakh through a fraudulent trading application.
According to police, the doctor was attracted by advertisements on Instagram promising daily returns of 5% to 20%. After being lured by the prospect of unusually high profits, the doctor invested money through the platform and suffered substantial financial losses.
Fraudsters frequently use social media advertisements to attract investors with unrealistic profit guarantees. Victims are persuaded to deposit money through fraudulent applications or online platforms, often without realising that the investment opportunity is part of a scam.
Authorities have repeatedly cautioned investors against schemes promising exceptionally high or guaranteed returns, particularly when the platforms and individuals behind them cannot be independently verified.
Why Is ‘Digital Arrest’ a Scam?
Police have clarified that ‘digital arrest’ is not a legally recognised procedure under Indian law. No legitimate investigative agency demands money from individuals online over phone or video calls in the name of an investigation.
People who receive threats of arrest or legal action should remain calm and verify the claims through the official channels of the relevant agency rather than complying with demands for money.
Police have also urged citizens to independently verify messages and calls purportedly originating from senior officials and to exercise caution when responding to investment advertisements offering unusually high returns.
How Can Victims Report Cyber Fraud?
Victims of cyber fraud should report incidents immediately by calling the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or by filing a complaint through the official cybercrime reporting portal, cybercrime.gov.in.
Prompt reporting can help authorities initiate action to prevent the defrauded money from being transferred further and may improve the chances of recovering the funds. Citizens are advised to preserve transaction details, messages, call records and other relevant evidence that could assist investigators.
The420 Insight: Three Scams, One Common Weakness
The three Hyderabad cases involved different methods, but each relied on persuading victims to trust fraudulent instructions. Fake messages from a company CEO, threats of arrest by supposed investigative officials and promises of unusually high investment returns all resulted in substantial losses. Independent verification before transferring money remains an essential safeguard.
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