📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harsh Purwar
Crime
Cyber fraud in Datiya: 75‑year‑old pensioner duped of ₹8.49 lakh over fake life‑certificate
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 15 Nov 2026, 06:31 PM
👁 31
A 75‑year‑old pensioner in Datiya, Madhya Pradesh, lost ₹8,49,823 after fraudsters pretended to help him obtain a life‑certificate online.
Datiya in Madhya Pradesh reported a cyber‑fraud case in which 75‑year‑old pensioner Kishanlal Ahirwar was swindled of ₹8,49,823. The scammer contacted the retiree, claiming to assist him in downloading a "life certificate"—a document required for pension disbursement.
The fraudsters allegedly asked Ahirwar to share his bank details and transfer the amount as a processing fee. Believing the request to be legitimate, the pensioner wired the money, only to discover later that the certificate could be obtained free of charge through the official pension portal.
Local police have opened an investigation, urging other senior citizens to verify the authenticity of such offers and to refrain from sharing personal or banking information over unsolicited calls or messages. The incident highlights a growing trend of online scams targeting elderly pensioners in the region.
Authorities are advising the public to download the life certificate directly from the government’s e‑services website or to visit the nearest pension office for assistance, thereby reducing the risk of similar frauds.
The fraudsters allegedly asked Ahirwar to share his bank details and transfer the amount as a processing fee. Believing the request to be legitimate, the pensioner wired the money, only to discover later that the certificate could be obtained free of charge through the official pension portal.
Local police have opened an investigation, urging other senior citizens to verify the authenticity of such offers and to refrain from sharing personal or banking information over unsolicited calls or messages. The incident highlights a growing trend of online scams targeting elderly pensioners in the region.
Authorities are advising the public to download the life certificate directly from the government’s e‑services website or to visit the nearest pension office for assistance, thereby reducing the risk of similar frauds.