Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Andhra Official Duped of Rs 2 Lakh by Imposter Anti-Corruption Officers
Imagine some bad guys pretended to be police officers who catch corrupt people.
They called a government worker in Andhra Pradesh named Srinivas and said they were coming to his office right away to investigate him for corruption.
They scared him by saying he owed them money, Rs 3 lakh, to stop the investigation.
Srinivas was worried, especially since he knew some real investigations had been happening.
He sent them Rs 2 lakh, hoping they would leave him alone.
But then they kept asking for more money.
Because they kept asking, Srinivas started to think something was wrong.
He called the real police and found out he had been tricked by very clever scammers.
Now, the police are trying to find these scammers.
A Sub-Registrar in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district was defrauded of Rs 2 lakh.
Criminals impersonated Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials to extort money.
The official transferred funds after being pressured to pay Rs 3 lakh to avoid an immediate ACB raid.
Suspicion arose when the fraudsters continued to demand the remaining Rs 1 lakh.
The official filed a police complaint after realizing he was a victim of a sophisticated cyber extortion racket.
- Who
- Sabbithi Srinivas, a Sub-Registrar in Andhra Pradesh, and cyber criminals posing as ACB officials.
- What
- The Sub-Registrar was defrauded of Rs 2 lakh by individuals impersonating Anti-Corruption Bureau officers.
- When
- Recently, following a series of ACB raids across the state.
- Where
- Mogalturu, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- The fraudsters impersonated ACB officials to extort money from the government official, under the pretext of averting an immediate raid.
Fraudsters' Claims
Official's Actions
Reason for Demand
Fraudsters' Claims
Claimed to be ACB officials conducting a raid due to suspected corruption.
Official's Actions
The official initially believed the claims, mentioning awareness of recent ACB raids, but stated he was functioning honestly.
Payment
Fraudsters' Claims
Demanded and received Rs 2 lakh to avert an immediate raid.
Official's Actions
Transferred Rs 1 lakh via PhonePe and directed his assistant to pay another Rs 1 lakh under pressure.
Escalation
Fraudsters' Claims
Continued to demand the remaining Rs 1 lakh.
Official's Actions
Became suspicious after the continued demand and cross-checked with a real ACB DSP.
- Victim
- Sabbithi Srinivas, Sub-Registrar, Mogalturu, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.
- Fraudsters' Impersonation
- Claimed to be Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials.
- Amount Transferred
- Rs 2 lakh.
- Initial Demand
- Rs 3 lakh.
- Payment Method
- PhonePe and direct transfer by assistant.
- Trigger for Suspicion
- Continued demand for the remaining Rs 1 lakh.
- Action Taken
- Filed a formal complaint at Mogalturu Police Station.
