TGCSB saves Rs 85.20 lakh from digital arrest fraud targeting Hyderabad man

Telangana Cyber Security Bureau officials saved Rs 85.20 lakh after an 85-year-old retired bank employee from Neredmet was targeted in a digital arrest scam. A fraudster posing as an NIA officer threatened him with arrest before demanding money for verification.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has saved Rs 85.20 lakh swiftly intervening in a sophisticated digital arrest fraud targeting an 85-year-old retired bank employee from Neredmet.

According to the TGCSB, the complainant was contacted by a fraudster posing as an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The caller falsely claimed the elderly person’s Aadhaar details had been misused by a person to open bank accounts and carry out fraudulent transactions worth around Rs 2.5 crore in Karnataka and Kerala.

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Speaking in Telugu and appearing on a video call in a police uniform, the fraudster threatened the elderly man with arrest and serious legal consequences. He instructed the victim not to disclose the matter to anyone, claiming that doing so could result in police visiting his residence.

Believing the caller to be a genuine government official, the victim transferred Rs 85.20 lakh to a specified bank account on the pretext of an RBI verification process. He was allegedly assured that the money would be refunded after verification. However, the fraudster later demanded another Rs 42 lakh, raising suspicion.

The victim then contacted his bank and learnt that he was likely being targeted in a cyber fraud and reported the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). The TGCSB officers swiftly traced the money trail and froze the suspect account maintained with IDFC Bank’s Coimbatore branch, securing the entire Rs 85.20 lakh transferred by the victim. The complaint was subsequently transferred to the Cybercrime Police Station, Malkajgiri, for further legal action.

TGCSB Director Shikha Goel, warned citizens that genuine police, NIA, CBI, RBI or other government officials will never ask people to transfer money for verification, investigation or security purposes.

Victims of financial cyber fraud call 1930 and report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal