A Hyderabad family recently fell prey to a meticulously planned scam, losing Rs 5.5 crore after being subjected to a 17-day “digital arrest.” Fraudsters posing as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) duped the family into believing they were under investigation for alleged illegal activities linked to their Aadhaar number.
The ordeal began on November 13, when 67-year-old Bharati Bai Agarwal, a resident of Basheerbagh, received a call from a man claiming to be Rahul Kumar from the Department of Telecommunications. He alleged that her Aadhaar-linked phone number was implicated in cases of money laundering and drug trafficking. The call was then escalated to two other individuals pretending to be CBI officers, Saurav Sharma and Ajay Gupta.
The scammers convinced the family that they were under “digital arrest,” subject to constant video and audio surveillance via Skype. They manipulated the family into disclosing their bank details and transferring funds under the guise of financial verification. Bharati was coerced into providing fabricated explanations, such as purchasing property or donating to charity, when questioned by bank officials about the large transactions.
Over 17 days, the family transferred Rs 5.5 crore in multiple installments, driven by threats and promises that the funds were needed to “clear their names.” On December 8, Bharati approached the CBI office in Sultan Bazar with documents provided by the scammers, only to discover that the documents were fraudulent and the entire scheme was a sophisticated deception.
Following this realization, the family filed a complaint with the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB). The police registered an FIR under relevant sections of the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code. Inspector R Venkatesh, leading the investigation, stated that the fraud was likely carried out by an organized group impersonating officials from national agencies. Efforts are underway to trace the flow of funds and apprehend the perpetrators.
The case highlights the growing prevalence of cyber scams and underscores the need for heightened public awareness and robust cybersecurity measures to prevent such incidents.
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