71-year-old ‘digital arrest’ victim in Hyderabad gets back ₹36.5 lakh of ₹43 lakh lost in scam

Elderly man recovers ₹36.5 lakh lost in FedEx courier scam with help from Cyber Crime Unit in Hyderabad.

A 71-year-old retired government employee from Hyderabad, who fell victim to a cyber fraud under the guise of a FedEx courier scam, has successfully recovered a major portion of his lost money. Swift action by the Cyber Crime Unit, Hyderabad, aided in recovering ₹36.5 lakh of the ₹43 lakh lost in the scam.

According to officials, the fraudsters posed as representatives of a FedEx Courier service and manipulated the victim into transferring a total of ₹43 lakh into bank accounts provided by them. Realising the deception, the victim lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Unit, which promptly registered a case.

A team led by inspector K. Madhusudan Rao, along with sub-inspectors Mahipal and Venkatesh, and constables Maheshwar Reddy and Venkatesh, initiated a thorough investigation.

The officials coordinated with bank authorities to freeze the fraudulent transactions and guided the victim through the legal process to reclaim the funds.

Following the intervention of the Magistrate of the XII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Anusha, a refund order was issued, enabling the release of ₹36.5 lakh back to the victim through a demand draft.

Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant against cyber frauds, especially those involving impersonation by law enforcement or government agencies through video calls. Citizens were advised not to panic if they receive threatening calls from individuals claiming to represent agencies such as the CBI, RBI, ED, Customs, Cyber Crime Police, Narcotics, or telecommunications bodies like BSNL and TRAI. Officials emphasised that no government agency conducts digital arrests or online inquiries demanding payments.