Hyderabad: A retired government medical officer from Hyderabad was cheated of Rs 36 lakh after cybercriminals who posed as Mumbai Crime Branch and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials threatened him with a fake money-laundering case and coerced him into transferring fund for verification. The victim lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station, Cyberabad. The fraud unfolded on November 26, when the 61-year-old doctor received a phone call from a man identifying himself as Devi Lal Singh, who claimed to be an investigating officer with the Crime Branch, Mumbai. The caller alleged that an anti-money laundering case had been registered against him and several bank accounts were opened in his name to transfer funds abroad on behalf of a man named Naresh Goyal, described as a criminal.
When the victim resisted and began questioning them, the callers stopped responding. Realising he had been duped, he approached the police, seeking recovery of his Rs 36 lakh and action against the fraudsters. A case has been registered under relevant sections of IT Act and further investigation into the incident, is underway.