An 81-year-old Ameerpet resident was duped of over ₹7.11 lakh in a honey-trap and financial fraud executed through WhatsApp calls. The cyber crime wing of the Hyderabad Police booked a case and initiated an investigation.
The scam unfolded in the first week of June when the victim began receiving phone calls and WhatsApp messages from a woman identifying herself as Maya Rajput. What started as friendly conversations soon turned into calculated manipulation.
The fraudster gradually won the trust of the elderly man by speaking affectionately, before resorting to emotional blackmail. Over the weeks that followed, she made repeated demands for money, citing reasons ranging from urgent medical treatment to plot registration, release of mortgaged jewellery, and even the purchase of household furniture and electronic items.
In addition to the financial pressure, the woman is reported to have deliberately sown mistrust between the victim and his family members, leaving him increasingly isolated and vulnerable. “Under the continuous influence of the fraudster from June 2025 till date, the victim, being elderly, lost the ability to differentiate between right and wrong,” said the police.
Between June and August, the octogenarian transferred a total of ₹7,11,200 to various bank accounts and UPI IDs provided by the fraudster. It was only after the matter came to the notice of his family that the extent of the fraud was realised.
Published – August 21, 2025 07:25 pm IST
