CBI Impersonation Fraud: Rs.35.74 Lakh Extorted From Elderly Person in Hyderabad

 Hyderabad: A 79-year-old resident of Domalguda became the victim to a CBI impersonation and extortion scam. The online fraudsters posing as CBI officers cheat the elderly man to the tune of Rs 35.74 lakh, according to the police

Explaining more about the details, the police said that on July 6, the victim received a call from an individual claiming to be Vijay Khanna, a CBI officer, calling from Colaba police station. The fraudster falsely alleged that a bank account in the victim’s name at a nationalised bank at Colaba branch was involved in a money laundering case connected to an accused named Naresh Goel. They intimidated the victim by claiming the investigation was being conducted under the orders of the Supreme Court, even shared forged documents like court orders and CBI warrants to gain trust

“The victim was warned not to disclose the matter to anyone, citing national security and involvement of high-profile individuals. Manipulated by fear and deception, the victim disclosed his bank account details and was instructed to transfer his funds for verification, with a false promise that the amount would be returned. Over the course of ten days, the victim transferred a total of Rs 35.74 lakh to accounts provided by the fraudsters. Another person, posing as Ayush Gupta as an investigation officer, also pressurised the victim into making transfers,” the police added.

Eventually, after being falsely assured that his name was cleared from the suspect list and instructed to collect his money from the nearest crime branch, the victim approached the cybercrime police station, Hyderabad, and discovered he had been defrauded and lodged complaint.

“CBI or police will never call to inform about the arrest of individuals and there is no such thing as digital arrest. No law enforcement agency will ask to transfer money for verification or investigation. Cybercriminals are posing as officials from the CBI, police departments, or government agencies and falsely claiming that the bank account is involved in money laundering or financial crimes. Do not share your bank account details, OTP, or personal information over phone calls. Verify the identity of any caller claiming to be a government officer through official contact numbers. Do not act out of fear or secrecy — consult family members or local police immediately,” the police said in an advisory

The police asked the people to preserve all communication, including messages, call records and transaction proofs. Victims can immediately dial 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in. or WhatsApp 8712665171.