In India, cyber scams targeting elderly fuel digital safety concerns

One 82-year-old victim lost nearly US$400,000 after fraudsters convinced him of their credentials by fabricating Supreme Court letters

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A man checks his mobile phone while commuting on a tram in Kolkata, India. Two recent cyber fraud cases involving retired Indian army officers have grabbed national attention. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 11:30am, 9 Apr 2025Updated: 11:37am, 9 Apr 2025

Two recent cyber fraud cases involving retired Indian army officers – including an octogenarian cheated out of his life savings – have raised alarms over the vulnerability of elderly citizens amid the country’s rapid shift to a digital-first society.

In separate incidents, an 82-year-old veteran and a 59-year-old former colonel were targeted by fraudsters using impersonation, blackmail and romance scams – a pattern observers say reflects both a rise in cybercrimes and limited risk awareness among the elderly.

The latest case involved Dalip Singh, a retired colonel from the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, who said he and his wife were defrauded of 34 million rupees (US$395,000) over 10 days by criminals posing as federal law enforcement officials.

According to Singh’s police report, the perpetrators first contacted him via WhatsApp on March 18, claiming his bank account was linked to a money-laundering case involving the now-defunct Jet Airways and its jailed founder Naresh Goyal. The fraudsters convinced him of their credentials by showing Singh a picture of his ATM card and fabricated letters from the country’s Supreme Court.

Dalip Singh and his wife were defrauded of 34 million rupees over 10 days by criminals posing as federal law enforcement officials. Photo: Handout

The couple, who were asked to keep their phones switched on at all times and remain at home throughout a 10-day period without contacting anyone, were made to transfer the money into several different bank accounts.