Hyderabad: Retired Doctor Falls Prey to Digital Arrest Scam, Loses Rs 36 Lakh

 Hyderabad: A retired government medical officer from Hyderabad was cheated of Rs 36 lakh after cybercriminals who posed as Mumbai Crime Branch and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials threatened him with a fake money-laundering case and coerced him into transferring fund for verification. The victim lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station, Cyberabad.

The fraud unfolded on November 26, when the 61-year-old doctor received a phone call from a man identifying himself as Devi Lal Singh, who claimed to be an investigating officer with the Crime Branch, Mumbai. The caller alleged that an anti-money laundering case had been registered against him and several bank accounts were opened in his name to transfer funds abroad on behalf of a man named Naresh Goyal, described as a criminal.

Shocked, the victim denied any involvement, but the caller insisted that a “higher-level investigation” would follow. He then forced the doctor into a video call and demanded all bank details and balances. The caller repeatedly threatened to arrest him and “keep him in custody for 90 days.”

During the call, the victim was connected to another fraudster claiming to be an IPS officer Shivam Subramanyam. This caller said he was sparing the victim “only because he was a senior citizen,” but instructed him to remain on video call continuously, warning that the case involved the ED and it was a “national secret.” He was told that a “digital arrest” had already been made, and disobeying instructions would lead to arrest by ED, Income Tax, and CBI under “Supreme Court guidance.”

The fraudsters claimed the allegations were related to an international women-trafficking network and told him that several transactions must be “verified.” They instructed him to transfer money to multiple bank accounts, assuring him that the funds would be refunded once the verification was complete.

Days later, the same person again contacted him, stating that verification was still underway and that even the doctor’s land and gold had to be “checked.”

He threatened that unless the victim paid Rs 1 crore, he would be arrested. The caller even said he would personally visit the doctor’s home for verification.

When the victim resisted and began questioning them, the callers stopped responding. Realising he had been duped, he approached the police, seeking recovery of his Rs 36 lakh and action against the fraudsters. A case has been registered under relevant sections of IT Act and further investigation into the incident, is underway.