Hyderabad retiree loses Rs.1.9 lakh in international phone call scam
Hyderabad: A 70-year-old retired individual from Hyderabad was defrauded of Rs. 1,90,000 (one lakh ninety thousand) by scammers who posed as international police officers. The fraudsters contacted the elderly man from two numbers and they are +92 323 7074008 and +971 58151 62920.
According to the cybercrime police, the callers falsely claimed that the victim’s daughter had committed a serious crime and had been arrested along with an accomplice. They threatened that a First Information Report (FIR) would be filed against her unless the victim paid a settlement amount. Under intense pressure from the callers, the victim was instructed to deposit Rs. 1,90,000 into an account linked to the phone number 9341231636 via PhonePe.
Following the payment, the victim realised he had been scammed and subsequently reported the incident to the cybercrime police.
In a similar case, a 40-year-old homemaker from Hyderabad lost Rs. 40 lakhs to a cybercrime scheme. The victim received a call from an individual posing as a FedEx courier, who falsely accused her of receiving a drug parcel containing MDMA. The caller then transferred the call to someone claiming to be a Mumbai police officer, who implicated her in a murder case.
The fraudster intimidated the victim by sending a photocopy of the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and falsely claimed to have significant influence. Threatened with arrest and financial loss, the victim complied with their demands and transferred Rs. 40 lakhs to the fraudsters.
Public Advisory:
1. If you receive a suspicious call, terminate the call immediately and do not engage further. Report the incident to your nearest police station without delay.
2. Be cautious of fraudulent calls claiming to be from organisations such as FedEx, BSNL, or TRAI.
3. Scammers often use psychological manipulation to create urgency and fear. Remember, legitimate law enforcement officials do not make contact via Skype or demand money for resolving issues. Do not transfer money under any such pretense.
4. Do not deposit funds into unknown bank accounts based on false promises from unfamiliar individuals.
If you are a victim of cybercrime, call 1930 immediately or file a complaint at http://cybercrime.gov.in.
For urgent assistance with cyber fraud, contact or WhatsApp at 8712665171.
