Cyber Crooks Extort Rs 7.31 cr, Keep Elderly Man In Digital Arrest For Two Months
The ordeal began on October 27, 2025, when the 83-year-old victim received a WhatsApp call from a cyber crook claiming that a courier sent in his name from Mumbai to Bangkok had been intercepted, cyber cops said
Hyderabad: In a brutal act of cyber extortion, an elderly businessman from Somajiguda was swindled of ₹7.31 crore by fraudsters who kept him under a "digital arrest" for two months on the pretext of a high-profile narcotics and terror probe.
The ordeal began on October 27, 2025, when the 83-year-old victim received a WhatsApp call from a cyber crook claiming that a courier sent in his name from Mumbai to Bangkok had been intercepted, cyber cops said.
The caller alleged the parcel contained multiple passports, a laptop, and narcotics. When the victim denied the charges, the call was "patched" to a fake Mumbai Police officer. The impersonators intensified the intimidation, accusing the elderly man of money laundering and having links with terror outfits.
The cyber offender, to ensure his "cooperation," placed him under a "digital arrest," a non-existent legal procedure, forcing him to remain on continuous video calls to monitor his movements and prohibiting him from leaving his residence.
Under the guise of a "financial verification" process by federal agencies, the scammers first coerced the victim into transferring ₹19.80 lakh, a TGCSB officer disclosed.
The crooks further on October 29, 2025, moved the communication to the Signal app, where they pressured him into liquidating his mutual funds and fixed deposits. Convinced that the money would be returned after "scrutiny," the victim transferred a whopping ₹7.12 crore to various accounts provided by the accused.
The fraud came to light only on December 29, 2025, when the scammers resurfaced after a period of silence to demand an additional ₹1.2 crore as case closure fees. The victim, who had recently read a newspaper report about similar digital arrest scams grew suspicious and approached the authorities, the officer said.
The officer further stated that the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau has registered a case and is currently tracking the money trail. "Our technical experts are working to trace the accused through the digital footprints left on the Signal app and bank accounts," he said.
Public Advisory:
Cybercrime officials have reiterated that no law enforcement agency conducts "digital arrests" or demands money over video calls for verification. Senior citizens are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls to the 1930 helpline or visit www.cybercrime.gov.in immediately.