Retired Telangana Teacher Loses Rs 82 Lakh in 'Digital Arrest' Cyber Scam

A retired school teacher in Mahabubabad, Telangana, has lost Rs 82 lakh in a cyber scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from Airtel, the police, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The victims were subjected to a 'digital arrest' scheme involving fake warrants, video calls with imposters in uniform, and threats of criminal prosecution linked to alleged misuse of the teacher's Aadhaar details.

The fraud began April 11 when the teacher's wife received a call from a person claiming to be an Airtel executive, warning that her husband's mobile number would be blocked due to 17 harassment complaints tied to his Aadhaar. The couple was then transferred to a WhatsApp video call with a man in a police uniform who claimed to be a sub-inspector in Bengaluru, asserting that a Mumbai-based Canara Bank account linked to an international criminal network had been created using the teacher's identity.

Over several days, the victims transferred Rs 49 lakh on April 15, Rs 22.22 lakh on April 18, and Rs 11.22 lakh on April 22 via RTGS to accounts provided by the scammers, believing the funds would be returned after legal verification by May 2. The fraudsters ceased communication on May 3, prompting the couple to file a complaint at Mahabubabad Town Police Station.

Police have registered a case based on the complaint, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Thirupathi Rao confirmed that efforts are underway to trace the suspects and initiate legal proceedings. Authorities are analyzing the transaction trails and digital footprints to identify the cybercriminals involved.

The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officials are expected to release advisories to alert the public about similar 'digital arrest' frauds.