A retired employee in Hyderabad allegedly lost Rs 11.69 lakh after cyber fraudsters posing as bank officials used a life certificate update as a pretext to obtain his personal and banking details, police said. The accused also persuaded him to share his mobile phone screen during a WhatsApp video call before transferring money from his fixed deposit and savings accounts.
According to the information reported by Telangana Today, the fraudsters contacted the complainant on the pretext of helping him update his life certificate. Life certificates are commonly used by pensioners and retired employees to confirm their continued eligibility for pension payments, making the process a credible cover for impersonation-based fraud.
Police said the accused collected the complainant’s Aadhaar and debit card details during the interaction. They then convinced him to share his mobile screen through a WhatsApp video call, giving them an opportunity to observe or access information displayed on the device.
The money was transferred in six separate transactions without the retired employee’s knowledge, police said. The transfers drew funds from both his fixed deposit and savings accounts, resulting in a loss of nearly Rs 11.69 lakh.
The case highlights how banking fraud increasingly relies on manipulating users rather than physically accessing a bank branch or payment terminal. In this instance, the alleged fraud was built around an administrative requirement familiar to pensioners, followed by a request for identity details and remote visibility of the victim’s phone.
Cybercrime police have urged citizens, particularly pensioners and retired employees, to remain alert to calls or video interactions involving life certificate updates. The police warning follows the reported transfers and focuses on preventing fraudsters from misusing routine pension-related processes to obtain sensitive personal and financial information.
The report did not provide details of arrests, the exact bank accounts involved or the status of efforts to recover the transferred money. Police action and further investigation will determine how the six transactions were carried out and whether the people responsible can be identified.
