A family in Hyderabad, lost Rs 5.5 crore after being trapped in a 17-day-long digital arrest.
The ordeal began when Bharati Bai Agarwal received a call from a man claiming to be Rahul Kumar from TRAI.
He told her that her Aadhaar-linked phone number was involved in serious criminal activities.
In today’s digital age, scams have become more sophisticated, and no one is safe from falling victim to them. A recent case in Hyderabad highlights just how clever and manipulative these fraudsters can be. A family in Basheerbagh, Hyderabad, lost Rs 5.5 crore after being trapped in a 17-day-long scam, where they were subjected to what the scammers called a digital arrest. Keep reading to know how the scam unfolded.
The ordeal began on November 13, when 67-year-old Bharati Bai Agarwal received a call from a man claiming to be Rahul Kumar from the Department of Telecommunications (TRAI). He told her that her Aadhaar-linked phone number was involved in serious criminal activities, including money laundering and drug trafficking.
The call was then transferred to two individuals pretending to be CBI officers, Saurav Sharma and Ajay Gupta. They informed Bharati that her family was under digital arrest and was being monitored through video and audio surveillance.
The fraudsters pressured Bharati to connect with them on Skype, where they continued to threaten her family, demanding sensitive bank details. They claimed that they needed to verify financial transactions to clear their names.
Under constant pressure and threats, Bharati was instructed to transfer money, citing fabricated reasons like buying property or donating to charity when questioned by bank officials. The family ended up transferring Rs 5.5 crore over multiple transactions.
Bharati visited the CBI office in Sultan Bazar on December 8 with the documents the scammers had given her, hoping to recover the lost money. It was there that she discovered the documents were fake, and she realised that she had been scammed.
Also read: Retired IAF officer loses Rs 76.5 lakh after falling for a Facebook ad: Here’s how the scam unfolded
How to protect yourself from such scams
- Verify the source: Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from a government agency or law enforcement.
- Be cautious with personal information: Never share sensitive details like bank account numbers, Aadhaar, or OTPs over the phone or online.
- Stay calm under pressure: Scammers often create a sense of urgency. Take a moment to think and consult with trusted family members or friends.
- Report suspicious activity: If you suspect a scam, report it to the authorities immediately.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
