Hyderabad: In a chilling example of how cybercrime has evolved into psychological theatre, a retired chief engineer from Vanasthalipuram in Hyderabad was conned out of ₹1.5 crore after falling prey to a meticulously staged fake “Supreme Court” video call.
The scam kicked off with an unexpected video call. On screen were individuals posing as court staff, telling the retired official his name had come up in a case supposedly “under Supreme Court review.” The setup was alarmingly convincing—formal tone, fake courtroom backdrops, and plenty of legal-sounding language.
Moments later, the scene escalated. A man dressed and acting like a Supreme Court judge joined the video call, warning the victim that the case against him was serious and that arrest was imminent. With a commanding voice and courtroom-style demeanor, he played the part to perfection piling on the pressure and leaving the victim shaken.
Using this elaborate act, the fraudsters persuaded the engineer to transfer ₹1.5 crore to a bank account they claimed belonged to the apex court, promising that the funds would be refunded once the case was resolved. Believing the drama unfolding on his screen, the victim transferred the full amount.
It wasn’t until days later, when there was no follow-up and the funds were not returned, that the man realised he had been scammed. He approached the Rachakonda police, who have since registered a case and launched an investigation into the high-tech heist.
Officials say the case underscores the urgent need for public vigilance. “No court, let alone the Supreme Court, demands money through phone calls or video calls,” they warned. “Any such request should be treated as fraud, and victims must report to the police immediately.”
With cybercriminals now scripting entire fake judicial interactions, police are urging citizens to be sceptical of unsolicited calls—no matter how convincing they seem.
