Mehdipatnam woman loses Rs 2 lakh to scammer claiming her brother arrested in Qatar

Hyderabad: A 38-year-old woman from Mehdipatnam was cheated of Rs 2 lakh after receiving a fraudulent WhatsApp call from an unknown person claiming her brother had been arrested in Qatar over visa-related issues.

Caller fakes brother’s arrest

According to Cyber Crime Police, the victim received a WhatsApp call recently from an unidentified individual who alleged that her brother was detained by police in Qatar for visa violations.

The caller created panic by stating that unless an urgent payment of Rs 2 lakh was made, her brother would be deported immediately.

Victim transfers money in panic

Fearing for her brother’s safety, the distressed woman transferred the amount in multiple transactions through different banks to the account details shared by the fraudster.

However, after managing to contact her brother directly, she discovered that he was safe and no such arrest had occurred. Realising she had been scammed, she approached the Cyber Crime Police Station and lodged a formal complaint.

Police advisory

The Cyber Crime Police urged citizens to remain vigilant and issued a public advisory:

Stay calm and verify: Do not panic if you receive distressing news about loved ones from unknown callers. Always confirm with the person concerned or family members.

Beware of urgency: Fraudsters create urgency to cloud judgement. Never rush into payments without verification.

Do not share personal information: Avoid sharing sensitive data or transferring money to unverified accounts.

The police also advised victims to preserve all communication records, including messages, call logs, and transaction proofs, to assist investigations.

Emergency helplines

Victims of cyber fraud can call 1930 immediately or visit cybercrime.gov.in to report such incidents. For direct assistance, contact 8712665171 (call or WhatsApp).