Hyderabad doctor loses Rs 3 crore after falling victim to digital arrest scam

Hyderabad: In yet another digital arrest scam, the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested two individuals from Gujarat for conning a 54-year-old female doctor out of Rs. 3 crore by posing as government officials. 

The two suspects, both aged 50, were involved in 17 similar fraud cases across India, with additional cases still under investigation. One of the accused works as a home loan consultant, while the other is a property dealer, and both are based in Gujarat.

The scam began when the doctor, based in Gudimalkapur, Hyderabad, received a phone call from an individual claiming to be an officer from the Telecom Department. The caller informed her that her mobile number would be blocked within two hours because it was allegedly linked to a money laundering case in Delhi. Despite the doctor’s denial of the allegations, the caller escalated the situation by transferring the call to Skype, where she was connected to a person who identified himself as an IPS officer from Delhi.

This individual presented a fake court order, supposedly issued by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, and instructed the doctor to prove her innocence by depositing large sums of money into designated bank accounts.

Also Read:Cops save doctor from falling victim to Digital Arrest Scam

Speaking about the case with The Hindu, The police said, “The doctor was threatened with the safety of her family if she did not comply. She was assured that the money would be refunded once her innocence was proven, with the added warning that the matter was a ‘National Secret’ and should not be disclosed to anyone.”

Following the threats, the doctor fearing for her family’s safety, redeemed her fixed deposits and transferred a total of Rs. 3 crore into the bank accounts provided by the Faudstars.

The case came to light when the doctor reported the incident to the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police, leading to an investigation and the eventual arrest of the accused individuals.

The police investigation revealed that the accused used various tactics to deceive their victims. They impersonated representatives from government bodies such as the Telecom Department, TRAI, CBI, and even the Cyber Crime Police, making calls via WhatsApp, Skype, and other internet-based services. The scammers threatened victims with digital arrest, accusing them of serious crimes like money laundering or terrorism.

Also Read: Sassoon Hospital doctor conned by cyber fraudsters, loses Rs 25 lakh