Coimbatore Residents Fall Prey to Sophisticated Cyber Fraud, Lose Over ₹1 Crore

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Cybercrime Wave Hits Coimbatore, India, with Over ₹1 Crore in Losses

A recent surge in cybercrime has struck the Indian city of Coimbatore, resulting in significant financial losses for its residents. Five individuals have collectively lost over ₹1 crore in separate incidents, prompting the Tamil Nadu Police to take action.

Retired Government Employee Loses ₹19 Lakh

In one case, a retired government employee from Singanallur was deceived out of ₹19 lakh. The scam began with a video call from an unknown individual claiming that her name was linked to a 206-count financial scam involving the CEO of a private airline. The fraudsters, posing as investigators, threatened her with a “digital arrest” and demanded that she verify her bank accounts. Under duress, she shared her account details and passwords, allowing the scammers to siphon off ₹19 lakh within hours.

Medical Practitioner Loses ₹31.54 Lakh

A similar “digital arrest” scam targeted Dr. Rangaraj, an 80-year-old medical practitioner from Chetty Veedhi, resulting in a loss of ₹31.54 lakh. The scammers claimed that his name was associated with a major financial fraud and warned him of imminent arrest unless he complied with their instructions. The fraudsters exploited his fear and urgency, coercing him into making multiple transactions.

Retired Bank Employee Loses ₹47.10 Lakh

Vijaygopal, a 63-year-old retired private bank employee from Podanur, lost ₹47.10 lakh in a stock market investment scam. He was added to online groups promoting trading opportunities with high returns and followed instructions from the group administrators, ultimately transferring money into the scammers’ accounts.

Job Seekers Lose ₹17.41 Lakh

Two other victims, Mariammal and Radha Bharathi, were targeted while searching for part-time employment on Telegram. They were initially assigned simple tasks, such as reviewing YouTube videos, in exchange for small payments. However, they were later persuaded to invest larger amounts under the pretext of higher returns, resulting in losses of ₹6.89 lakh and ₹10.52 lakh, respectively.

Cybersecurity experts warn the public not to share personal or banking information with unknown callers under any circumstances. Investors are advised to verify the authenticity of trading platforms through official sources before making any investments.

The Coimbatore cases serve as a stark reminder of the devastating financial consequences of a moment’s lapse in the digital world. Investigators are working to trace the perpetrators and recover the stolen funds, while the victims await justice.