Tragic Loss: Telangana Farmer Dies by Suicide Due to Old Coin Cyber Fraud | Hyderabad News

Fraudsters promised him huge profits. They tricked him into paying various fees.

HYDERABAD: A 30-year-old farmer, Bandenolla Pochireddy from Vikarabad, died by suicide after becoming a victim of a new form of cyber fraud and was looted.
The fraudsters trapped Pochireddy by promising huge returns for collecting old coins for them. When he collected coins in large numbers, they made him pay amounts towards various taxes and charges. Allegedly upset with this, he died by suicide.
While cops confirmed that he so far transferred Rs 37,000 to the fraudsters, his family members suspect the amount could be more and demanded a thorough investigation into the case so that other people do not fall into the trap. Vikarabad police registered a case under section 194 of BNSS and started an investigation.
According to police, Pochireddy, a resident of Peerampalli village near Vikarabad, first received a WhatsApp communication on Tuesday about an opportunity to collect old coins and send them, promising huge returns for the same. After collecting coins, when he informed the fraudsters, he later paid Rs 37,000 to them. Though he did not have online banking or UPI payment options, he transferred the amount through someone and even shared the screenshots of payment with the fraudsters. But when they demanded more, he realised that he was trapped and took the extreme step. “He attempted suicide at his residence on Friday afternoon and died undergoing treatment on Saturday,” said a Vikarabad police official.
Meanwhile, Pochireddy’s family members expressed suspicion that he could have transferred more and was under pressure to transfer some more, forcing him to take his life. “From the time of his father’s death three years ago in an accident, he was solely taking care of his elderly mother and was her pillar of support. Such a person cannot take his life just for Rs 37,000. We request the police to dig deep into the matter and prevent many others from falling into the trap,” said Pochireddy’s relative, Shiva Reddy.
The family members have also lodged a case with the Vikarabad Cybercrime wing for investigating the fraud. Police said all angles are being probed.