Belagavi (Karnataka) [India], March 30 (HBTV): An elderly couple died by suicide in Beedi village in the Belagavi district of Karnataka after allegedly losing over INR 50 lakh to cyber fraud.

According to the police, the victims, identified as Diego Santan Nazareth (82) and his wife Flavia (79), were found dead in their home in Christian Galli.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhimashankar Guled stated that the couple left behind a two-page suicide note detailing their ordeal.

‘The bodies of an elderly couple were found in their home in Beedi village, and it appears to be a case of suicide at first glance. We have also found a two-page death note. According to its contents, they seem to have been victims of a cybercrime. It appears they lost over INR 50 lakh due to cyber fraud, and the actual amount could be even higher. We are also investigating their bank accounts,’ he said.

Preliminary investigations suggest they were tricked by cybercriminals posing as crime branch officials.

‘The preliminary investigation suggests that the couple was mentally distressed after falling victim to cyber fraud. They had repeatedly tried to contact the fraudster through WhatsApp video calls. The last message they sent stated, “If you do not answer our calls, we will end our lives,”’ he added.

SP Guled urged the public to remain vigilant against cyber fraud and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.

‘If they had informed us, we could have protected them. This incident is a wake-up call for society,’ he said.

‘We have registered a case based on the death note and also under charges of abetment to suicide. The case has been transferred to the Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police station, and the investigation will continue under my supervision. We will make every effort to identify and arrest the perpetrators as soon as possible,’ said SP Guled.

‘Our two special teams are already visiting various banks to collect information. The death note reveals that the cybercriminals contacted the couple, claiming that their ID had been used to commit a cybercrime. The fraudsters provided them with a phone number, claiming it belonged to the Crime Branch Police. Believing them to be genuine officers from Delhi, the couple called the provided number. The criminals then intimidated the couple and extorted money from them,’ he added.

(ANI)