A tragic case has come to light in Hyderabad where a 76-year-old retired government doctor died of cardiac arrest after enduring severe psychological harassment from cyber fraudsters. The fraud involved impersonation, forged documents, threats, and extortion that reportedly pushed her into distress over several days. Authorities are investigating the matter after a complaint from her family.
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What Happened During The Scam
It began when the doctor received a WhatsApp call that showed the Bangalore Police logo, misleading her into believing she was being contacted by law enforcement. The fraudsters falsely implicated her in a fabricated “Sadat Khan Human Trafficking Case,” using forged documents that included her Aadhaar details. Over the next three days, she was subjected to video calls from multiple numbers. The scammers claimed to have orders from Supreme Court, Karnataka Police, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They threatened prosecution under a fictitious National Secret Act, 1923. Under this mounting pressure, the doctor transferred ₹6.60 lakh from her pension bank account to the fraudsters.
Despite this transfer, the harassment did not stop. Additional fabricated notices and threats continued, increasing her stress. On September 8, she experienced severe chest pain and was rushed to a private hospital where she eventually suffered cardiac arrest. After her death, shockingly, scammers reportedly still tried to reach out with calls and messages.
Legal Response & Wider Implications
Cybercrime police have registered a case under multiple sections of the IT Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators are trying to trace down the fraudsters, figure out how they secured forged documents, and map how this kind of “digital arrest” scam is organised. This incident underscores how cyber fraud isn’t just financial loss—it can lead to extreme emotional trauma, especially for elderly people less equipped to deal with aggressive harassment. It also raises urgent questions about how to make reporting easier, how banks and telecom services can better detect suspicious transfers, and how to regulate impersonation threats online.