70-year-old retired government employee loses ₹38.73 lakh to Facebook-based pig butchering scam involving emotional manipulation, blackmail, and fictitious characters over several months

Summary

A 70-year-old retired government employee in Hyderabad lost approximately Rs 38.73 lakh to cybercriminals who impersonated a fictitious woman and others, using emotional manipulation, threats, and blackmail over several months. The fraud began in January 2024 when the victim received a friend request on Facebook from a fake account portraying a poor woman whose father had died and whose mother worked as a tailor. The cybercriminals asked for money under various pretexts, including installing a WiFi connection and medical expenses, and later introduced fake characters such as a cable operator, a police constable, and a sub-inspector to pressure the victim for more funds. The victim sent money in instalments, including Rs 10,000 to the cable operator, Rs 10 lakh for medical bills, and Rs 2.65 lakh through his credit card. Over time, the fraudsters escalated their tactics, involving sexually charged conversations and blackmail threats, and the victim was asked for additional payments to avoid fictitious legal charges. The victim eventually filed a complaint with the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police Unit in late 2024, but the police have been unable to identify the source of the fraud.