Three Elderly Hyderabad Residents Lose Rs 1.89 Crore to Digital Arrest Scams

Three elderly persons in Hyderabad lost a combined Rs 1.89 crore after cyber fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials placed them under "digital arrest" in separate incidents. The cases were reported across localities including Sainikpuri, Kondapur, and Malkajgiri.

In the largest case, a 74-year-old retired employee approached the Malkajgiri cybercrime police after being defrauded of Rs 88.8 lakh. The victim stated that she received a phone call on July 21 from an individual claiming to represent the Data Protection Board of India. The caller alleged that a SIM card had been fraudulently obtained using her Aadhaar details and utilised for illegal operations, linking her to an alleged money laundering investigation.

The fraudsters subsequently instructed her to transfer her savings under the guise of an official verification process. Under pressure from the callers, the woman transferred Rs 88.8 lakh across 25 separate transactions.

In another incident, a 67-year-old retired employee residing in Sainikpuri was targeted using a similar modus operandi. Scammers informed him that a SIM card registered under his Aadhaar had been used in illegal activities. The victim transferred Rs 68.8 lakh to the fraudsters between August 6 and August 12.

The third victim, a 73-year-old pastor from Kondapur, was contacted by fraudsters who accused him of harassing women and engaging in money laundering. Under coercion, he transferred Rs 31.61 lakh in total.