Thu Feb 06 14:05:14 UTC 2025: ## Hyderabad Woman Loses ₹8.13 Lakh in Elaborate Loan Scam
**Hyderabad, February 6, 2025** – A 58-year-old retired woman in Hyderabad has fallen victim to a sophisticated online loan scam, losing ₹8.13 lakh to fraudsters posing as Gujarat State Finance Department officials. The perpetrators, who contacted the victim initially through a claim of being a friend of her late husband, promised a 100% loan for her solar harvesting project under government schemes like PMEGP and CGTMSE.
The fraudsters meticulously built trust, guiding the woman through a fabricated loan application process. They requested multiple payments for “processing fees,” “subsidy charges,” and other fabricated administrative costs, assuring her the payments were refundable. The victim, eager to start her business, complied. She was even provided with a fraudulent loan allotment letter.
After several transactions totaling ₹8.13 lakh, the fraudsters claimed the loan was approved but never disbursed the funds. When the victim attempted to contact them after her heart surgery, they demanded further payments. Realizing the scam, she filed a police complaint.
Hyderabad cyber crime police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Authorities warn of a rising trend of fraudsters impersonating government officials and financial experts to lure victims with promises of easy loans. They emphasize that legitimate government loans do not require upfront payments and urge citizens to verify information through official websites. The speed at which the fraudsters pressured the victim prevented her from verifying the details.
First Piper 