A 90-year-old man in Hyderabad has allegedly lost ₹18 lakh after cyber fraudsters posing as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers threatened to arrest him in a fabricated money-laundering case.
According to police, the fraudsters contacted the elderly man and claimed that he was connected to a money-laundering investigation. They allegedly used the threat of arrest to pressure him into sharing banking information and transferring money. The incident has been described as a suspected “digital arrest” scam.
Fraudsters Allegedly Used Fake CBI Identity
The callers reportedly presented themselves as CBI officials and told the victim that he would face arrest unless he cooperated with their instructions.
The fraudsters then demanded ₹18 lakh, allegedly claiming that the payment was necessary to avoid arrest or complete a supposed verification process. Believing that he was communicating with genuine officials, the victim transferred the money.
Reports from Hyderabad indicate that similar scams have involved fraudsters impersonating agencies such as the police, CBI and other government authorities to create fear and pressure victims into making payments.
Victim Approaches Police After the Transfer
The elderly man reportedly realised that he had been deceived after transferring the money. He subsequently approached the police, following which Hyderabad Cybercrime Police registered a case and began an investigation.
The incident highlights how criminals can exploit the credibility associated with government agencies while using threats and urgency to pressure victims.
What Are Digital Arrest Scams?
In these frauds, criminals impersonate law-enforcement or government officials and falsely claim that a person is connected to a criminal investigation. Victims may then be pressured to remain on calls, share personal or banking information, or transfer money under the pretext of verification or avoiding legal action.
Hyderabad Police has previously warned the public not to panic when receiving threatening calls claiming to be from agencies such as the police, CBI, RBI, ED or other authorities.
A genuine investigation should not require a person to transfer money simply to prevent an alleged arrest. Any suspicious demand involving money or banking information should be independently verified through official channels. Businesses and individuals dealing with financial transactions can also benefit from appropriate [Financial Investigation] support when suspicious transactions need to be examined.
Cybercrime Investigation Underway
The ₹18 lakh case remains under investigation, and the allegations against the unidentified fraudsters have not yet resulted in a reported conviction.
The incident serves as another reminder that impersonation-based financial scams can target people across age groups, with senior citizens often facing particular risks from threats involving supposed criminal cases.