Hyderabad Techie Escapes 24-Hour Digital Trap Ordeal, Thanks to Timely Police Intervention
HYDERABAD: A 44-year-old software professional from Hyderabad endured over 24 hours of ‘digital arrest’ in a fake money laundering case, only managing to break free from cyber criminals early Sunday morning with the help of police, without losing any money.
The victim, who resides in Miyapur, was manipulated into leaving his home and riding 15 km to a lodge in Ameerpet while remaining on a continuous WhatsApp video call as per the fraudsters’ instructions. They convinced him that his Aadhaar number was linked to a money laundering case and pressured him to stay on the call, claiming his family could face legal trouble if he didn’t comply.
The ordeal began late Friday night when the techie received suspicious text messages, which he initially dismissed as spam. However, around 3 a.m. on Saturday, he received a call from scammers posing as FedEx agents and later as Mumbai police officers, who threatened him with arrest. Fearful for his family’s safety, the man followed their instructions, left his home, and remained isolated in the lodge.
According to police, the scammers claimed the process would continue until Monday, when the banks reopened. At that point, the victim was told he would need to make an RTGS payment for “account verification.”
Escape from the Digital Trap
The techie’s escape began when the video call was abruptly disconnected around 4 a.m. on Sunday. In that brief moment, he contacted the Hyderabad cybercrime helpline at 8712665171. Constable Mokthala Ganesh answered his call and, recognizing the man’s distress, kept him talking on the phone for over an hour while coordinating with his family.
“I realized he had fallen victim to cybercriminals. He was extremely scared, so I stayed on the line, making sure he didn’t break down or take any drastic action. I contacted his neighbor and made sure his family was informed and brought to the lodge to rescue him,” said Ganesh.
Thanks to Ganesh’s quick thinking, the techie was rescued by his family without losing any money. The victim later expressed his gratitude to the constable, telling the police that it was Ganesh’s support that helped him through the ordeal.
The victim recounted how the scammers had forced him to keep his phone plugged in constantly and stay on video, even during restroom breaks. “Though the call dropped a couple of times, they always called back. It was only on Sunday morning that I managed to reach the cybercrime cops,” he said.
Timely Police Response
Hyderabad’s cybercrime ACP RG Siva Maruthi and other officers praised Constable Ganesh for his decisive action. “We respond immediately to such cases and assist victims. We urge people to stay alert and not fall prey to these fraudsters,” said Maruthi.
Rising Cases of Digital Arrest
The case is part of a worrying trend of ‘digital arrest’ scams:
– October 2024 : A pilot from Begumpet lost ₹7 lakh after being held under digital arrest.
– May 2024 : A woman architect was scammed into paying ₹60 lakh to escape digital arrest.
– March 2024 : An IIT Hyderabad PhD scholar was defrauded of ₹30 lakh under similar circumstances.
Authorities continue to urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately to the cybercrime helpline.