Hyderabad, October 22, 2025: In a shocking revelation, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau and Nizamabad III Town Police have detained a 17-year-old JCB operator from Rajasthan for running a massive impersonation scam. The teenager allegedly created over 200 fake social media profiles of senior IAS, IPS, and IRS officers, defrauding multiple victims across India.
How the Rajasthan Teenager Impersonation Scam Unfolded
The scam came to light after a 62-year-old retired teacher from Kanteshwar, Nizamabad, lost Rs 50,000. The victim was approached via a Facebook profile named Dr. Sunil Kumar, claiming to be a DIG officer. Trusting the account, the victim engaged in conversation and was later lured into a fake furniture sale offered by another impersonated CRPF officer. Payment was made, but neither the items nor the refund were received.
Rajasthan teenager impersonation scam: Police Investigation and Arrest
Upon receiving the complaint, investigators traced the accused to Jalore district, Rajasthan. Officials revealed that the teenager had dropped out of school and learned to operate JCBs. He turned to cybercrime after observing peers earn money online.
The police found six cases pending against him in Telangana and nearly 100 across India. Using Google Translate, he communicated convincingly with victims and executed similar scams nationwide.
Rajasthan teenager impersonation scam: Modus Operandi
The teen’s method was sophisticated:
- Creating fake social media profiles using real photos of senior officers.
- Sending friend requests to genuine contacts of these officers.
- Communicating fluently using Google Translate to gain victims’ trust.
- Luring victims into fraudulent transactions like fake furniture sales.
Warnings and Cyber Safety
Police officials urge citizens to verify profiles and be cautious online, particularly when dealing with unknown social media contacts claiming official identities.
Experts stress that impersonation scams are rising rapidly and call for digital literacy awareness among the elderly and vulnerable.
