Two arrested for duping senior citizen of ₹59 lakh in Hyderabad ‘digital arrest’ scam

The Cyber crime wing of the Hyderabad police arrested two key accused in connection with a ‘digital arrest’ scam case in which a retired senior citizen was cheated of ₹59.03 lakh.

The accused were identified as Surampudi Chandrasekhar, 31, and Emandi Venkat Naveen, 25, both residents of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Police said that they acted as account suppliers in an organised interstate cyber fraud network.

The case came to light on December 4 when the victim received WhatsApp calls from unknown persons impersonating police and government officials. The callers falsely accused him of involvement in serious offences including human trafficking, overseas job fraud and money laundering. To intimidate him further, forged arrest warrants were sent via WhatsApp. Under sustained threats of immediate arrest, the victim transferred ₹59.03 lakh through RTGS from his Union Bank of India account between December 4 and December 6.

Investigation revealed that the fraudsters operated a well-coordinated ‘digital arrest’ scam by posing as law enforcement officers and creating fear through continuous video and voice calls. In such cases, the gang forced the victims to move money into multiple bank accounts and, in some instances, used malicious APK files to gain access to internet banking and SMS services. The cheated amounts were routed through shell firm accounts, converted into cryptocurrency, mainly USDT, and later withdrawn through Binance peer-to-peer transactions into personal accounts.

The arrested accused, part of an interstate cyber fraud racket, procured and shared bank accounts to facilitate the movement of cheated funds. Police said at least 15 current accounts had been arranged by them for the prime accused. They also allegedly received proceeds in cryptocurrency, which were later converted into Indian currency.

The accused were found to be linked to 65 cyber fraud cases across the country, including in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. In Telangana alone, they are connected to five cases registered in Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Sangareddy. The total amount involved in the cases nationwide is estimated to be around ₹8 crore.

During the arrests, police seized five mobile phones, four cheque books, ten debit cards and three PAN cards. Other accused involved in the case are absconding. The arrested men have been remanded to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway.