Gujarat-Based Fraudsters Arrested
Hyderabad : Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested two individuals from Gujarat for deceiving a Hyderabad-based doctor out of ₹3 crore through a ‘digital arrest’ scam. The accused, Harpal Singh (50) and Saiyad Aiyub Bhai (50), posed as government officials and coerced the victim into transferring large sums of money.
Both suspects, a home loan consultant and a property dealer, were involved in 17 similar fraud cases across India, with ongoing investigations into additional crimes.
Modus Operandi: Fake Government Officials & Threats
The scam began when a 54-year-old doctor from Gudimalkapur received a call from an individual posing as a Telecom Department officer. She was falsely informed that her mobile number was linked to a money laundering case in Delhi and would be blocked within two hours.
When she denied any wrongdoing, the call was transferred to Skype, where another fraudster introduced himself as an IPS officer from Delhi. He presented a fake court order purportedly issued by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, demanding she prove her innocence by transferring money to designated accounts.
Under threats to her family’s safety, the doctor liquidated her fixed deposits and transferred ₹3 crore to the fraudsters. She was warned to maintain secrecy, being told the case was a ‘National Secret’ and disclosure would put her loved ones in danger.
Police Action & Scam Tactics
Once the fraud was reported, Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered a case and tracked down the culprits. Investigations revealed that the scammers used multiple deception tactics, impersonating officials from:
- Telecom Department
- TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)
- CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation)
- Cyber Crime Police
Using WhatsApp, Skype, and internet-based calls, they intimidated victims by threatening ‘digital arrest’ and falsely accusing them of serious crimes like money laundering and terrorism. Victims were strictly warned to maintain confidentiality, with threats of severe consequences if they spoke about the case.
Once the money was transferred, the fraudsters blocked the victims’ numbers, making recovery nearly impossible.
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police urge citizens to stay vigilant and report any suspicious calls from individuals claiming to be government officials.
