Fraudsters swindle Rs 102 Cr from the elderly in 19 months

Metro India News | HYDERABAD

The city Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar had urged the elderly to stay alert against different types of cyber scams and added that  cyber criminals swindled Rs 102 crores from the  senior citizens in the last 19 moths in the state . He  noted  that the cyber criminals exploit their fears and naivety to steal their life savings.

He clarified that there was no legal provision for "digital arrest" in  the country and added  that no government agency or regulatory body would demand money through threats made over phone or video calls. He advised against trusting attractive part-time job offers or online trading schemes promising high returns that are circulated via platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. He emphasized the importance of verifying whether an investment platform is registered with SEBI before investing and warned against paying additional taxes or fees to withdraw profits.

He also advised people not to share bank details, OTPs, Aadhaar numbers, or PAN numbers with anyone. “It is heartening to note that awareness regarding the cybercrime is growing among the elderly. They are proactively asking bankers to place limits on their bank transactions to avoid falling victim to fraud. Recently, a retired State DGP requested bankers to limit cash withdrawals via his cheques to a maximum of Rs 5,000. This is a commendable step. Everyone needs to exercise similar vigilance regarding the  cybercrime.

The Bank employees should be immediately alert if senior citizens attempt to withdraw large sums of cash suddenly. They should inquire about the reason for such a large transaction and immediately inform the customer's children or family members. If there is any suspicion that it might be a ploy by the cyber criminals, the transaction should be halted immediately. Such presence of mind and precautionary measures by the bank staff can protect the elderly from falling prey to cybercrime gangs,” he said.

He advised that if anyone receives threats or suspicious calls, they should not panic but immediately call the national helpline number 1930 or lodge a complaint via the www.cybercrime.gov.in portal. He explained that filing a complaint during the ‘Golden Hour’ immediately after the fraud occurs significantly increases the chances of freezing and recovering the funds. He also urged the bankers to pay special attention to large-value transactions initiated by the elderly customers at their branches. He affirmed that the Hyderabad City Police was steadfastly committed to the safety of the senior citizens at all times.