Hyderabad: Two arrested in ₹59 lakh ‘digital arrest’ scam targeting senior citizen
Hyderabad: Two arrested in ₹59 lakh ‘digital arrest’ scam targeting senior citizen
Police bust cyber fraud ring in Hyderabad; ₹59 lakh duped from retiree in a 'digital arrest' scheme, with two men held and links to 65 cases nationwide.
The Cyber Crime Wing of the Hyderabad Police has arrested two key suspects in a broad interstate cyber fraud network tied to a ‘digital arrest’ scam that cheated a retired senior citizen out of ₹59.03 lakh. The accused, Surampudi Chandrasekhar, 31, and Emandi Venkat Naveen, 25, are residents of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, and acted as account suppliers for the network.
The case surfaced on December 4 when the victim received WhatsApp calls from individuals posing as police and government officials. They falsely claimed involvement in offences such as human trafficking, overseas job fraud, and money laundering. To add pressure, forged arrest warrants were sent via WhatsApp, and under the threat of immediate arrest, the victim transferred funds through RTGS between December 4 and December 6.
Investigators say the scammers ran a well-coordinated operation, using continuous video and voice calls to intimidate victims. They directed transfers into multiple bank accounts and employed malicious APK files to gain access to internet banking and SMS services. The funds were moved through shell company accounts, converted to cryptocurrency—mainly USDT—and later withdrawn through Binance peer-to-peer exchanges into personal accounts.
The two arrested are said to be part of a larger interstate fraud racket, with bank accounts procured to facilitate movement of the proceeds. Police note that the accused have links to at least 65 cyber fraud cases across several states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Authorities urge the public to verify any urgent arrest messages and avoid transferring money or providing banking access, reminding citizens that legitimate agencies never demand immediate cash transfers or cryptocurrency conversions.
