Fake NGO dupes Hyderabad man of ₹7.9 lakh with ₹50 lakh loan promise
HYDERABAD: A 30-year-old resident of Begumpet lost ₹7.9 lakh to a fraudster who lured him with a fake promise of a ₹50-lakh loan in a scam involving a fictitious non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Police said the victim received a WhatsApp call from a person whose profile picture displayed Bollywood actor Salman Khan and claimed to be the founder of “HYC”. The caller told the victim that a loan of ₹50 lakh had been sanctioned in his name and asked him to pay ₹10 lakh towards processing and other charges.
Believing the offer, the victim transferred ₹7,90,000 from his and his acquaintances’ bank accounts to those provided by the fraudster. When he later requested the loan disbursement, the caller demanded another ₹30,000, claiming that the total ₹10 lakh would then be refunded. Suspicious of the demand, the victim stopped further payments and reported the matter to the Cybercrime Police Station in Hyderabad.
Cybercrime unit warns against fake loan offers
The Cybercrime Police have urged citizens not to trust unsolicited WhatsApp calls or messages promising loans from NGOs or unknown sources. “People should never transfer money upfront for processing fees, taxes or other charges without verifying the organisation,” a senior officer said.
Officials also advised verifying NGO credentials through government websites and watching for red flags such as celebrity photos in WhatsApp display pictures or suspicious bank details.
Victims of cybercrime can report such incidents immediately by dialling 1930 or visiting cybercrime.gov.in. For emergencies, people can also contact 8712665171 or email cybercrimespshyd@gmail.com.
The Hyderabad Cybercrime Police regularly share cyber safety updates through their official social media handles on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) under @CyberCrimeshyd.
