Hyderabad Seniors Lose ₹20 Lakh in Online Fraud Cases

Quick Summary:

• Two senior citizens from Hyderabad lost over ₹20 lakh in separate cases of cyber fraud.
• Case 1: An 80-year-old man was duped into transferring ₹19,09,905 to a fraudulent online share trading platform after clicking on a fake news article featuring stock market claims by ‘Saadu Sadguru.’ The scammers used fake credentials purportedly from FSC and SEBI to appear credible.
• Case 2: A 66-year-old woman installed a counterfeit grocery app after clicking an advertisement link promising discounts. She unknowingly entered her credit card details, resulting in transactions totalling ₹1,17,521 being made without her approval.Despite contacting Axis Bank promptly for investigation assurances, the amount remained debited as per her June 2025 credit card statement.
• Both incidents are being investigated by the Cyber Crime Wing of Hyderabad Police.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
These incidents underscore the rising threat of targeted cyber fraud within India and highlight vulnerabilities faced by older adults unfamiliar with digital platforms or security best practices. Criminals exploited trust symbols such as national regulators’ logos (SEBI and FSC) and brand names like DMart to lend credibility to thier scams,pointing to refined fraud tactics designed to deceive even cautious users.

For India’s growing population of digital users-especially senior citizens-these cases emphasize the need for widespread cybersecurity awareness campaigns incorporating phishing prevention tips and education about malicious apps disguised as trusted brands or services. It is indeed also vital for enforcement agencies like police cybercrime units to expedite tech-driven investigations while advocating stricter regulations governing app distribution channels tied to financial transactions.

To combat such fraud effectively at scale involves coordinated efforts among financial institutions (e.g., faster dispute resolution), internet companies (e.g.,scrutinizing ad placements),law enforcement agencies (monitoring organized scam networks),and public education programs tailored explicitly for vulnerable demographics.

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