Mehdipatnam woman duped of Rs 2L by WhatsApp caller faking brother’s arrest in Qatar

Hyderabad: A 38-year-old woman from Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad, was recently cheated of Rs 2 lakh after receiving a fraudulent WhatsApp call from an unknown number. The caller falsely claimed that her brother had been detained by Qatari police over visa issues and would be deported unless immediate payment was made.

Panicked by the call and concerned for her brother’s safety, the woman transferred the amount in multiple transactions using different bank accounts. Later, she was able to contact her brother directly and was shocked to learn that he was safe and had not faced any such incident. Realizing she had been scammed, the woman approached the Cyber Crime Police Station and filed a complaint.

Public Advisory:

• Verify First: If you receive alarming news about a relative from an unknown source, verify the information directly with the person or their close contacts.
• Beware of Pressure Tactics: Scammers often create urgency to prevent victims from thinking clearly. Do not act in haste.
• Protect Your Information: Do not share personal details or transfer money to unknown accounts based on unsolicited calls or messages.

Victims of cyber fraud are advised to call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or report incidents at cybercrime.gov.in. In case of emergency, contact 8712665171 via call or WhatsApp. Preserve all messages, call logs, and payment records to assist in the investigation.