Secunderabad man duped of Rs. 44.8L in WhatsApp loan scam
Hyderabad: A 59-year-old private employee from Secunderabad lost ₹44.83 lakh to online scammers who posed as loan agents on WhatsApp. The fraud began after the victim responded to a message shared in the Arya Vysya WhatsApp group, which claimed that loans up to ₹15 lakh could be sanctioned at a low interest rate within a few hours, subject to eligibility.
The message included a contact number, 9863092176, allegedly linked to a firm named Mahalaxmi Finances. When the victim reached out for more details, he was told his CIBIL score was too low to qualify for the loan. The caller then sent a UPI payment link under the name “Gurukripa Traders,” asking for an initial payment, promising it would be refunded along with the loan amount.
Believing the claims, the victim made the payment and was then asked to share copies of his Aadhaar card, PAN card, and a cheque leaf, which he did. After discussing the matter with his brother, he deleted the shared documents from the chat. However, the scammer soon called again, questioned the deletion, and demanded a “fine” via another UPI link. The victim complied.
This cycle repeated multiple times. The scammer cited various issues, including low account balance and missing documentation and imposed further penalties. Desperate to secure the loan, the victim borrowed from friends and family, making a total of 25 UPI transactions from his SBI account.
The scammers later sent cropped screenshots as “proof” that the loan was being processed and claimed a “head office” would contact him soon. They also threatened to cancel the loan if further payments were not made. When the victim stopped sending money, the scammers became abusive and accused him of filing a complaint. In total, the victim lost ₹44,83,000 in the scam.
Public Advisory:
Hyderabad Cybercrime Police urge the public to be cautious of loan offers on WhatsApp and other unofficial platforms. Always verify the legitimacy of financial services through official websites or local bank branches.
Never send advance payments for loan approvals, and avoid sharing personal documents over unsecured channels. If in doubt, consult a trusted family member or financial advisor.
Victims of cyber fraud should immediately call the cybercrime helpline at 1930 or file a report at cybercrime.gov.in. For urgent assistance, contact or WhatsApp 8712665171.
