Hyderabad: Telangana Cyber Security Bureau Director Shikha Goel said police recovered Rs 85.2 lakh lost by an elderly man in a digital arrest fraud. The victim was an 85-year-old retired bank employee from the Neredmet area.
On August 21, the accused called the retired employee through a video call. He wore a uniform and falsely claimed to be an officer from the National Investigation Agency.
The caller then told the victim that someone had misused his Aadhaar details. He also claimed that illegal transactions worth Rs 2.5 crore had taken place.
Furthermore, the accused threatened the elderly man with legal action. He claimed the victim could avoid the case by transferring money for an RBI verification process.
Fearing the alleged action, the victim transferred Rs 85,20,000 to an account provided by the accused. The suspect then demanded another Rs 42 lakh from him.
However, the victim quickly contacted his bank after receiving the second demand. He also submitted a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Digital arrest fraud funds traced by TGCSB
Following the complaint, TGCSB officials immediately tracked the financial transactions. They identified an account at an IDFC Bank branch in Coimbatore and secured a freeze on the account.
As a result, officials recovered the Rs 85.2 lakh that the victim had transferred. The prompt complaint helped authorities act before the suspect could move the money further.
Goel warned the public against such impersonation-based cyber fraud. She said government agencies, police departments and RBI officials do not ask people to transfer money for verification.
She advised people to remain calm when they receive suspicious calls. Victims or potential victims should immediately contact 1930 or report the incident through the cyber crime portal.
The case came under Neredmet Police Station in the Malajigiri Commissionerate area of Hyderabad. Police continued their efforts to trace the person behind the fraudulent video call.
Separately, Telangana received national recognition in the PMFME programme. The state won first prize in the Seed Capital Component category for promoting self-help groups.
Union Civil Supplies Minister Chirag Paswan presented the award to Telangana SERP Director N Rajitha. The presentation took place at the MoFPI-PMFME National Conclave-26 at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi.
Women and Child Welfare Minister Seethakka welcomed the recognition for Telangana. The award recognised the state’s work supporting SHGs under the PMFME initiative.