Parents of four former students of the Government Model School near Perundurai reportedly lost nearly ₹1 lakh to cyber fraudsters who posed as school staff and promised education scholarships.According to the police, Suresh, father of a former student, received a phone call from a woman claiming to be a teacher at the school. She told him that his daughter was sanctioned a ₹35,000-education scholarship under a Central government scheme and the amount would be credited towards her college fees. The caller asked him to share his Google Pay details to facilitate the transfer.Believing the caller, Mr. Suresh shared his bank account details. Within minutes, ₹35,000 was reportedly debited from his account instead of being credited. The caller disconnected the phone after the transaction. The police said the parents of three other former students of the school were cheated similarly, with the total loss amounting to nearly ₹1 lakh.The victims approached the school’s Headmaster who advised them to lodge a complaint with the Erode Cyber Crime Police.Based on the complaint, the Cyber Crime Police on Thursday (July 9, 2026) began an investigation. The police also cautioned the public against sharing bank account details, OTPs or digital payment credentials with unknown callers offering scholarships or other financial assistance. Published - July 09, 2026 05:44 pm IST