Hyderabad, Oct 23 (IANS): The police in Hyderabad have successfully facilitated the refund of Rs 53 lakh to an elderly individual who had fallen victim to cyber fraud, losing a total of Rs 2.88 crore. The refund was made following a court order.
The investigation was initiated by the City Cybercrime Police after receiving a complaint from an 84-year-old resident of Hyderabad. According to Police Commissioner C. V. Anand, the fraudsters had contacted the victim via a WhatsApp video call, impersonating officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They falsely accused him of being involved in a financial fraud amounting to Rs 68 crore and threatened him with imprisonment.
In a state of fear, the victim complied with the fraudsters’ instructions and transferred Rs 2.88 crore to the bank accounts they provided. The Cyber Crime Police subsequently registered a case under various sections of the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code, and launched an investigation. They issued notices to bank officials, worked to freeze the fraudulent funds, and assisted the victim in filing a petition for the recovery of the money.
The Police Commissioner noted that due to the diligent efforts of the police staff, the court ordered the banks to process the refunds. Specifically, Axis Bank in Surat was directed to return Rs 53 lakh, while the State Bank of India in Kerala was instructed to refund Rs 50 lakh. Following consistent follow-up with bank officials, Rs 53 lakh was successfully transferred to the victim’s account today.
The Police Commissioner advised the public to remain vigilant and not to succumb to threats of arrest over the phone, emphasizing that legitimate police do not make such calls. He urged individuals to refrain from sending money to fraudsters, to block such calls, and to report any incidents immediately through the helpline number 1930 or the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in. The public has been encouraged to stay informed through the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police.
