The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has successfully recovered the entire ₹85.20 lakh siphoned off from an 85-year-old retired bank employee, a resident under Neredmet police station limits in the Malkajgiri Commissionerate, who fell victim to an elaborate digital arrest scam.According to police, the victim was contacted on August 21, 2026, by a caller posing as an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The fraudster, speaking in Telugu and appearing on a video call dressed in uniform, falsely claimed that the victim’s Aadhaar details had been misused by one Abdul Salam to open bank accounts and carry out fraudulent transactions worth nearly ₹2.50 crore across Karnataka and Kerala.The caller threatened the victim with serious legal action and warned him against speaking to anyone about the matter, cautioning that uniformed police officers would otherwise arrive at his home, causing social embarrassment and further legal trouble. Convinced he was dealing with a genuine government official, the victim transferred ₹85,20,000 to a bank account specified by the fraudster, under the pretext that the money was needed for “RBI verification” and would later be refunded.The scam began to unravel when the caller demanded an additional ₹42 lakh, prompting the victim to grow suspicious and approach his bank, where he learned he had been defrauded. He promptly filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).Acting swiftly, the TGCSB officers traced the money trail and froze the suspect account held with IDFC Bank’s Coimbatore branch, securing the entire defrauded amount. The case has since been handed over to the Cyber Crime Police Station, Malkajgiri, for further legal proceedings. Published - August 26, 2026 07:35 pm IST