HYDERABAD: Cyber fraudsters use Salman Khan photo in ₹7.9 lakh scam
HYDERABAD: Cybercriminals created a fake non-governmental organisation (NGO) and used Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s photo as their WhatsApp display picture to cheat a city-based businessman of ₹7.9 lakh.
According to DCP Dara Kavitha, the victim, a trader from Begumpet, received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be the founder of an NGO named “HYC Foundation”. The caller assured him of business loans up to ₹50 lakh at low interest rates.
Fraudsters collected money in instalments
Believing the offer, the businessman shared his documents over WhatsApp for loan processing. Soon, several others called him from different numbers, explaining “loan processing charges” and collecting payments under various heads. In total, they extracted ₹7.9 lakh from him.
They also told the victim that part of the money would be refunded and that the loan had been sanctioned. However, when no funds were credited, they demanded another ₹30,000 to “release the amount”.
Complaint filed with cybercrime police
Realising he had been duped, the trader approached the City Cybercrime Police Station and lodged a complaint. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the fraudsters.
