Hyderabad Retired Doctor Dies After 70-Hour Cyber Scam Harassment; Fraudsters Extorted ₹6.6 Lakh
A 76-year-old retired government doctor in Hyderabad died of a heart attack after enduring nearly 70 hours of nonstop intimidation by cybercriminals posing as law enforcement officials. Despite her death, the fraudsters allegedly continued sending threatening messages, police confirmed on Tuesday.
How the Fraud Began
On September 5, the victim — who previously served as chief senior resident medical officer at Mamidipudi Nagarjuna Area Hospital, Malakpet — received WhatsApp video calls from a number displaying the Bengaluru police logo. The scammers presented forged documents bearing seals of the Supreme Court, Enforcement Directorate, and Reserve Bank of India, falsely accusing her of human trafficking. They threatened her with arrest under the National Security Act unless she transferred money.
Extortion of ₹6.6 Lakh
Terrified by the threats, the doctor transferred ₹6.6 lakh from her Union Bank pension account to an ICICI Bank account linked to a shell company in Maharashtra on September 6. However, the harassment continued. Another number saved as “Jaishankar Sir” sent repeated threats, fake court notices, and video calls.
Collapse and Death
On September 8, after days of continuous intimidation, the doctor collapsed at her Madhura Nagar home with severe chest pain. She was rushed to Raja Nursing Home in Yousufguda and later shifted to Apollo Spectra Clinic, Ameerpet, where she passed away at 12:30 pm. Her family only realized the full extent of the scam after her funeral on September 9.
Messages Even After Death
Shockingly, the scammers continued messaging her number after her death. “They even sent a ‘good morning’ text on September 10,” a police officer said.
Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have registered a case under the IT Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Investigators are tracking phone records and the bank accounts involved in the fraud.
