Cyber fraud alert: 72-year-old retiree in Hyderabad loses Rs. 3.3 lakhs
Hyderabad: A 72-year-old retired male resident from Hyderabad has fallen victim to a cyber fraud scheme, resulting in a loss of Rs. 3,30,000. According to the cybercrime police, the victim received a WhatsApp message from +91 93952 98271 claiming that his mobile number would be blocked due to his involvement in a financial scam.
The fraudulent message stated that Airtel had flagged the victim’s mobile number, prompting a call from someone posing as a Mumbai police officer. During a video call, the impersonator informed the victim that he must appear in Mumbai immediately or face a preliminary inquiry.
The caller falsely implicated the victim in a Rs. 300 crore scam involving Naresh Goyal and displayed a fake Reserve Bank of India (RBI) letter bearing the victim’s name, claiming that the matter was confidential due to national security concerns.
Under intense pressure to prove his innocence, the fraudster offered two options, one is to travel to Mumbai or pay a penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs to the RBI. The scammer extracted the victim’s financial details, ultimately convincing him to transfer money via RTGS to an account controlled by the fraudster. He urged the victim to act quickly, insisting that the RBI would close by 4 p.m. and the funds needed to be sent immediately.
Following the money transfer, all communication from the fraudster stopped, leaving the victim aware that he had been deceived. He subsequently filed an online complaint seeking help.
Public Advisory:
If you receive a suspicious call, end it immediately without engaging further and report it to the nearest police station. Be cautious of fraudulent calls claiming to be from FedEx, BSNL, and TRAI. Scammers may use psychological tactics to manipulate your emotions and decision-making.
Remember, law enforcement officials do not contact individuals through Skype calls and never insist on money transfers to resolve issues. Do not believe these callers and do not transfer any money.
Avoid depositing money into unknown bank accounts based on false promises from unknown individuals.
If you become a victim of cybercrime fraud, call 1930 or register a case at cybercrime.gov.in immediately. For emergencies related to cybercrime fraud, please call or WhatsApp 8712665171.
