Senior Citizen Loses ₹14.35 Lakh in Online Scam Using Finance Minister’s Photo

Rapid Summary

• A 68-year-old Santoshnagar resident lost ₹14.35 lakh to fraudsters who misused Finance Minister Nirmala sitharaman’s photo in a fake Facebook advertisement for metal trading investments.
• The victim clicked the ad in June 2025 and received WhatsApp calls from individuals claiming to represent Quantum AI,a U.K.-based company.
• Initially investing ₹12,600, he was later persuaded to transfer larger sums via Google Pay and RTGS to multiple accounts after being promised high returns.
• A fake finance department representative named ‘Niya Sharma’ claimed his profits had grown to ₹36 lakh but pushed him to pay ₹8.2 lakh as “income tax” before releasing the funds. Fraudsters also sent him a forged passport for credibility.
• Realizing he was deceived, the victim lodged a complaint with Hyderabad cyber police, who have registered the case and begun investigations.
• Police highlighted an uptick in misuse of public figures’ photos for fraudulent schemes online; citizens were urged not to trust unverified ads or dialog regarding investments.
• Victims of financial fraud are recommended to report cases through helpline 1930, www.cybercrime.gov.in, or WhatsApp at 8712665171.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The reported incident underscores the growing threat posed by sophisticated financial scams exploiting loopholes in social media platforms and users’ vulnerability toward false assurances of high returns on investment schemes. The misuse of public figures’ images further amplifies credibility, making such scams harder for people-especially elderly individuals-to recognize as fraudulent.

While the Hyderabad police’s alertness is commendable in addressing these cases swiftly, there is an evident need for greater accountability from social media companies hosting advertisements that facilitate such crimes. Both increased public awareness campaigns around online safety and stringent regulations targeting deceptive digital marketing could play critical roles in mitigating future occurrences.

Additionally, India’s rapid adoption of digital payments necessitates constant evolution of cybersecurity infrastructure while empowering citizens with tools like helplines and fraud reporting platforms mentioned by law enforcement authorities.

Read more: September 16,2025