Doctor duped of Rs 2 crore by cyber fraudsters posing as police officers

HYDERABAD: In a shocking case of cybercrime, a doctor from Rayachoti town in Annamaiah district has been duped of Rs 2 crore by fraudsters posing as police officers.

Dr. Imtiaz, a physician at Ameen Hospital, fell victim to the scam after receiving a call five months ago from a number displaying the photo of a police officer.

The scammers informed Dr. Imtiaz that a drug parcel had arrived in his name from London and that a case had been registered against him. They further threatened that he would soon be arrested. The fraudsters claimed their investigation revealed that a drug mafia had plotted to eliminate him, further deepening the doctor's fear.

Over the course of several weeks, the criminals called regularly, even showing him a fake police station through video calls, making the scenario appear legitimate. Convinced by their elaborate setup, Dr. Imtiaz transferred a total of Rs 2 crore to the fraudsters in 25 separate transactions.

The scam came to light when one of the cybercriminals was arrested by police in Assam. Upon investigating, the Assam police contacted Dr. Imtiaz and informed him about the scam, advising him to file a formal complaint with the local authorities. The case is currently under investigation.