Hyderabad: Criminals posing as cops extort Rs 12.5L from PJTSAU scientist
The caller alleged that a SIM card taken with his Aadhaar number was being used to send harassing messages and that 17 police cases had been registered against him.
By Newsmeter Network
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Hyderabad: A scientist from Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) was cheated of Rs 12.5 lakh by cybercriminals who threatened him with fabricated police cases and false charges.
Threat call sparks fear
On June 27, the scientist, a resident of Pocharam in Tellapur Municipality, received a call from an unknown person.
The caller alleged that a SIM card taken with his Aadhaar number was being used to send harassing messages and that 17 police cases had been registered against him.
Fraudsters pose as police
To make the threat believable, the culprits made a video call in which one appeared wearing a police uniform. They assured the victim that the cases could be cleared if he cooperated and followed their instructions.
Claims of illegal transactions
In another call, the fraudsters told him that a bank account had been opened in Mumbai using his Aadhaar. They claimed the account was linked to illegal financial transactions and human trafficking, demanding Rs 42 lakh to “settle” the matter.
Payments Made in Installments
Fearing legal trouble, the scientist transferred Rs 5 lakh initially. On July 24, he paid another Rs 5 lakh, followed by Rs 2.5 lakh on August 5, after being told that further payments would help recover his money.
Cybercrime complaint filed
When the fraudsters continued to demand more money, the victim realized he had been duped and approached the Cybercrime department. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to track down the culprits.
