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72-year-old Hyderabad woman loses ₹2.2 crore in digital…

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activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestTelangana

72-year-old Hyderabad woman loses ₹2.2 crore in digital arrest scam

Two elderly women, a 72-year-old from Nampally in Hyderabad and a 74-year-old from Kolkata, fell victim to digital arrest scams orchestrated by cyber fraudsters impersonating law enforcement and federal investigators. In the Hyderabad incident, the victim was accused of drug trafficking and money laundering, losing ₹2.20 crore through multiple bank transfers. In the Kolkata incident, the victim was held under virtual custody for 32 days and defrauded of over ₹1 crore through nine RTGS transfers.

State

Telangana

First reported

October 2026

Amount alleged

₹2.2 crore

Agencies involved

Cyber Crime Police Station Hyderabad City and Kolkata Police

Status

Under police investigation and public advisories issued

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

The scammers utilized video calls, fabricated arrest warrants, and professional-looking virtual cabins to intimidate the victims. They isolated the individuals by forbidding them from talking to family members or lawyers, and subjected them to constant online and offline surveillance. The perpetrators exploited the victims' isolation and trust in authority to coerce them into transferring funds under the guise of security deposits and clearing criminal investigations.

Authorities in both regions responded by issuing public advisories. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police urged citizens to stay vigilant against demands for money over video calls and advised verifying documents sent via messaging apps. Meanwhile, Kolkata Police highlighted an increase in similar cases targeting senior citizens and advised that no law enforcement agency demands money to clear criminal allegations.

Not yet reported: The articles do not mention any specific arrests or the identities of the suspects involved in the fraud.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

Police investigations are ongoing in both cities, and authorities have issued fresh public alerts warning citizens about digital arrest scams.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

Senior citizens living in urban areas, specifically a 72-year-old woman in Hyderabad and a 74-year-old woman in Kolkata.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

Feb 27The 74-year-old victim in Kolkata received the initial WhatsApp calls from individuals claiming to be from federal agencies.

Over a 32-day periodThe Kolkata victim was kept under virtual custody and constant surveillance while scammers siphoned off funds.

Early this monthThe Kolkata victim's son noticed her deteriorating emotional state, learned of the ordeal, and approached the police.

2026-10The Hyderabad case involving the loss of ₹2.20 crore was reported.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

Fraudsters contacted elderly victims via WhatsApp calls, impersonating officers from the CBI and other federal agencies.
The callers accused the victims of involvement in serious crimes such as drug trafficking or money laundering.
Scammers used video calls featuring individuals in police uniforms and fake office settings, alongside fabricated arrest warrants, to intimidate the victims.
Victims were placed under digital arrest or virtual custody and strictly forbidden from informing family members or lawyers.
Perpetrators maintained constant surveillance over the victims, convincing them that non-compliance would result in immediate arrest.
The victims were coerced into visiting multiple banks to transfer large sums of money across various accounts provided by the fraudsters.

Targeted by something similar?

Call 1930 (free, 24x7) straight away, then file at cybercrime.gov.in. Money reported in the first hours is far easier to freeze.

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Keep reading

More cases like this one.

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Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

thehindu.comOriginal report timesofindia.indiatimes.comOriginal report The Hindu<![CDATA[https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/72-year-old-hyderabad-woman-loses-22-crore-in-digital-arrest-scam/article71583330.ece]]>

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