Pahalgam Attack Link, Fake Arrest Warrants: How 68-Year-Old Lost Rs 26 Lakh

Hyderabad:

A 68-year-old Hyderabad resident was swindled out of Rs 26 lakh after fraudsters convinced him that his name was connected to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives.

Between September 17 and 19, the elderly man received multiple calls from scammers impersonating officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and even the Director General of Police (DGP).

The fraudsters claimed that a terrorist identified as Asif Fauji, allegedly responsible for the Pahalgam attack, had stored the victim's phone number and photographs on his mobile device. They accused the senior citizen of assisting Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and receiving Rs 70 lakh for his involvement.

To enhance the credibility of their scheme, the perpetrators displayed counterfeit arrest warrants, fabricated RBI letters, and other forged documents during WhatsApp video calls.

The scammers told the victim that an NIA team was en route to arrest him and that obtaining a No Objection Certificate would help him avoid the legal complications.

Terrified by the prospect of arrest, the man liquidated his fixed deposits and transferred Rs 6.06 lakh initially, followed by an additional Rs 20 lakh from his wife's account.

Although the scammers instructed him not to disclose the situation, his family noticed financial irregularities and persuaded him to report the incident to authorities.

The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police has launched an investigation into the case.