Hyderabad: A 50-year-old doctor from Banjara Hills, Dr. Sameer Azad Mahendra has become the latest victim of an online scam, losing Rs 11 Crore through fraudulent forex trading platforms. Earlier this year, a 34-year-old woman doctor became the victim of Delhi’s largest cyber fraud targeting an individual, losing Rs 4.5 crore in a meticulously orchestrated scam.
Crypto Scam in Hyderabad
In August, Dr. Mahendra was introduced to the scheme by Mittal, posing as a representative of a reputed forex trading firm, and was directed to register on fake websites, webull.bet and webull-vip1.pro. Encouraged by initial returns and trading tips shared via WhatsApp by Mittal and his daughter, Sakshi, he began transferring large sums, converting Indian rupees into USDT through RTGS bank transfers. Between August and November, Dr. Mahendra made multiple transfers totaling Rs 11.1 crore.
When Dr. Mahendra attempted to withdraw funds, the scammers demanded additional fees, including Rs 3.7 crore for an “advance tax” under US laws. Their repeated demands raised suspicions, leading Dr. Mahendra to file a complaint with Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police on November 30, 2024 submitting evidence of transactions and chats.
The case has been registered under relevant sections of the IT Act and IPC, with investigations underway to trace the accounts and identify the perpetrators of this sophisticated scam targeting high-value victims.
Delhi’s Largest Cyber Theft
Eariler this year, a 34-year-old woman doctor became the victim of Delhi’s largest cyber fraud targeting an individual, losing Rs 4.5 crore in a meticulously orchestrated scam. The incident began with a phone call falsely claiming her “FedEx package” had been seized, leading her into an elaborate web of deception.
According to the complaint, the doctor received a call on May 5 from an unknown number. The caller, posing as a FedEx representative, claimed her package had been intercepted and asked her to press 1 for more details. The caller alleged that the package contained sensitive items, including her passport, banking documents, clothing, two pairs of shoes, and 140 grams of MDMA.
The scammers claimed that a parcel booked from Mumbai to Taiwan on April 21, 2023, had been intercepted, with a charge of Rs 25,025 plus GST paid via an icici credit card. When the victim denied any involvement with the courier, the caller suggested filing a complaint with the Andheri police station and redirected her to an individual posing as “Inspector Smita Patil” from Andheri East Police Station.
Since the victim was in Delhi, “Inspector Patil” recommended registering the complaint online and instructed her to download the Skype app. The impersonator then connected with the victim via her newly created Skype ID, using a profile titled “Mumbai Andheri East Cyber Crime.” During the Skype call, the victim was asked to provide a recorded statement.
The scammer further attempted to confirm the victim’s Aadhaar ID, citing concerns about potential misuse. According to the victim, the impersonator engaged in a staged conversation with another individual to make the situation appear legitimate.
The Scam Unfolds
Frightened by the mention of illegal substances, the doctor followed the instructions given by the caller, who transferred her to another individual claiming to be from the “Narcotics Control Bureau” (NCB). This person accused her of involvement in criminal activities and demanded her cooperation to avoid legal consequences.
The victim was then manipulated into providing her personal details, including financial information, and was persuaded to transfer money to “secure her assets” and prove her innocence. Over a series of transactions, she transferred Rs 4.5 crore into various accounts provided by the scammers.
How Scammers Target Doctors ?
Healthcare providers are increasingly becoming prime targets for cybercriminals, who aim to extort large sums of money through sophisticated cyber attacks. Using methods like ransom ware, phishing, and data breaches, attackers often trap organizations by exploiting vulnerabilities in online platforms such as trading systems, social media, and even internal networks.
Reported scam tactics continually change but often share many of the same characteristics. Callers use names found online of well-known DEA officials, retired or former Special Agents, and/or police officers in local departments. Callers will also provide fake badge numbers.Additionally, they may:
- ask for personal information, such as social security number or date of birth.
- use an urgent and aggressive tone.
- threaten arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, and, in the case of medical practitioners and pharmacists, revocation of their DEA registration.
- reference National Provider Identifier numbers and/or state license numbers when calling a medical practitioner. They also may claim that patients are making accusations against the practitioner.
Source of Information: https://medicaldialogues.in/news/health/doctors/crypto-investment-scam-hyderabad-doctor-cheated-of-rs-11-crore-139590
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