A retired RBI employee in Hyderabad lost Rs 3.27 lakh after scammers impersonated Election Commission officials, highlighting the rising risk of OTP fraud amid voter roll updates, police warn citizens to remain vigilant.
A retired Reserve Bank of India employee in Hyderabad lost Rs 3.27 lakh after scammers used the name of the Election Commission of India to carry out a fake verification drive, police said. According to TeluguPost, the victim received a forged message claiming that verification had to be completed within 48 hours and was sent a link that demanded a small payment, after which money was drained from the bank account.
The case comes as Hyderabad police warn that fraudsters are posing as election officials during the Special Intensive Revision 2026 of electoral rolls, a process being used to update voter details. Reports from Telangana Today and other local outlets say the scammers are pressing people for one-time passwords and banking information while pretending to be Booth Level Officers or Election Commission staff.
City police commissioner V C Sajjanar has said neither the Election Commission nor BLOs will ask voters to share OTPs over the phone, and that doing so can expose both bank accounts and personal data to criminals. The Cyber Security Council of India, which runs awareness campaigns in Hyderabad, says citizens who receive suspicious calls or messages should treat them as fraud and use the national cyber crime helpline 1930 to report the attempt quickly.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
