Hyderabad: A 75-year-old retired government employee in Hyderabad lost Rs 96 lakh after a WhatsApp part-time job offer led him into a fake foreign exchange trading scheme.
He is among 403 senior citizens who collectively lost Rs 102.02 crore to cyber fraud in just 19 months, highlighting how aggressively cybercriminals are targeting the elderly in the city.
Senior citizens becoming targets
According to Hyderabad City Police data, the cases involving people above 60 were registered between January 2025 and July 31.
Police said fraudsters are increasingly exploiting senior citizens through fake investment schemes, ‘digital arrest’ threats, OTP frauds and emotional scams.
WhatsApp job offer turns into Rs 96-lakh trading fraud
The Jubilee Hills resident was initially approached through WhatsApp with an offer for part-time work. The scammers reportedly assigned him small tasks and paid him some money, winning his confidence.
He was later added to a Telegram group and persuaded to invest in foreign exchange trading. A fake platform displayed what appeared to be substantial profits, encouraging him to put in more money.
When he tried to withdraw the supposed profits, the fraudsters demanded additional payments citing withdrawal and processing charges.
He eventually lost Rs 96 lakh in multiple transactions.
Govt retiree loses Rs 85 lakh
In another case, a 70-year-old retired gazetted officer allegedly lost Rs 85 lakh after receiving a WhatsApp video call from a man posing as a Mumbai police officer.
The scammer claimed that a money-laundering case had been registered against the victim and threatened to arrest him. Fake documents were reportedly used to make the threat appear genuine.
Under the guise of verifying his bank accounts, the victim was allegedly made to transfer Rs 85 lakh through a single RTGS transaction.
Trading scams cause Rs 55.88 crore loss
Trading frauds emerged as the biggest financial threat to senior citizens.
Of the 403 cases recorded during the 19-month period, 113 were trading fraud cases, in which victims lost more than Rs 55.88 crore.
Scammers typically use WhatsApp and Telegram to promote fake stock market or foreign exchange investment opportunities. Victims are shown fabricated profits through fake apps and websites and are later asked to pay additional amounts to withdraw their money.
‘Digital arrest’ scams claim another Rs 31.93 crore
The second biggest source of financial losses was ‘digital arrest’ fraud.
In 69 cases, senior citizens lost more than Rs 31.93 crore after fraudsters allegedly posed as CBI, ED, police, narcotics or customs officials.
Victims are often contacted through video calls and accused of involvement in serious crimes. The scammers then use threats of arrest and fake official documents to force them into transferring money.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, IPS, stressed that there is no such thing as a “digital arrest” under Indian law. Genuine government agencies do not threaten people over phone or video calls and demand money.
OTP frauds account for most cases
OTP-related frauds recorded the highest number of cases among the major categories.
Police registered 115 OTP fraud cases, with senior citizens losing around Rs 4.94 crore.
Investment frauds accounted for another 22 cases, resulting in losses of Rs 2.79 crore, as victims were promised attractive returns.
Loneliness exploited in dating scams and honeytraps
Police are also concerned about dating frauds and honeytraps targeting elderly people. Seven cases were registered during the period, with victims losing more than Rs 70.11 lakh.
Scammers allegedly create fake identities on social media and dating platforms, build emotional relationships with victims and later demand money citing emergencies or customs duties for purported gifts. Police said embarrassment and fear of social stigma can prevent victims from reporting such frauds.
Cyber fraud among seniors
Despite the alarming losses, police said there has been a decline in cases and financial losses this year. In 2025, 285 cases involving senior citizens were registered, resulting in losses of Rs 71.81 crore.
During the first seven months of 2026, the number fell to 118 cases, while the financial loss stood at Rs 30.20 crore.
The monthly average also declined from around 24 cases in 2025 to 17 cases in 2026.
Police attributed the decline partly to awareness campaigns, public warnings and quicker intervention by cybercrime teams.
Families urged to monitor elderly parents
Cybercrime investigations have revealed that lack of family supervision can leave senior citizens particularly vulnerable.
Police said family members sometimes fail to notice unusual phone calls, sudden financial transactions or changes in the behaviour of elderly parents.
By the time they realise that something is wrong, victims may already have transferred lakhs of rupees to fraudsters.
Officials urged families to maintain regular communication with elderly relatives and pay attention to unusual financial activity.
Banks can stop fraud before money is lost
Bank employees are also playing a crucial role in preventing cyber fraud.
Police said there have been instances in which bank staff noticed elderly customers suddenly breaking fixed deposits or attempting to transfer unusually large sums to unfamiliar accounts.
After questioning the customers and contacting their family members or police, some suspicious transactions were reportedly stopped.
Police urged banks to remain particularly vigilant when senior citizens attempt unusually large withdrawals or RTGS/NEFT transfers.
Sajjanar warns seniors about online investment traps
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Sajjanar urged senior citizens to be cautious about unsolicited WhatsApp and Telegram messages offering part-time jobs or high-return investment opportunities.
He advised people to verify whether investment platforms or intermediaries are registered with SEBI before investing.
Seniors should never share bank details, OTPs, Aadhaar or PAN information with unknown persons and should not pay additional “taxes” or “processing charges” to withdraw profits displayed on suspicious platforms.
Report cyber fraud immediately on 1930
Police advised victims not to panic or remain silent after receiving suspicious calls or losing money.
Complaints can be reported immediately through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Police stressed that reporting fraud during the crucial “golden hour” can improve the chances of freezing the money and recovering the amount transferred.
Hyderabad City Police urged senior citizens, families and banks to remain vigilant as cybercriminals continue to devise new ways to target elderly victims.
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