One phone call, and lakhs gone: How cyber thugs use trust and pressure to dupe victims

An elderly English tutor, a working woman, and two students from Delhi became recent victims of different online scams that wiped out their life savings. The scams, ranging from fake police calls and job offers to investment frauds, show how criminals are using new methods to target vulnerable citizens and siphon funds through multiple accounts, making recovery almost impossible.

According to The Times of India, each victim followed a similar pattern — initial trust-building, continuous pressure, and quick fund diversion — resulting in major financial losses and emotional trauma.