PUNE– A 70-year-old woman fell victim to a sophisticated cyber scam, losing Rs 2.5 crore to fraudsters who posed as officials from the Maharashtra Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Exploiting fear and deception, the criminals falsely implicated her in a money laundering case linked to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, coercing her into making multiple fund transfers.
The elaborate ruse began in mid-February when the woman received a call from an individual claiming to be a police officer from Nashik. He alleged that a bank account in her name had been connected to a high-profile financial fraud case. When she denied any involvement, the caller escalated the pressure, demanding her bank details under the pretense of verification.
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Days later, another fraudster—posing as an officer from Gangapur police station—contacted her, pretending to offer assistance. Soon after, she received a fabricated Enforcement Directorate notice declaring that she was under “digital arrest” and subject to constant monitoring. The scammers instructed her to upload selfies every two hours as proof of compliance.
In a further manipulation of trust, the criminals convinced her that her assets needed to be transferred to a so-called “government account” for verification.
To lend credibility to their claims, they provided forged documents and emails. Succumbing to their demands, the woman made 74 transactions between February 19 and March 10, even liquidating her fixed deposits and other investments.
It was only when the fraudsters cut off all communication after she requested the return of her money that she realized she had been deceived. She promptly reported the incident to the Cyber Crime Cell.
A Growing Threat
Preliminary investigations indicate that international cybercrime syndicates orchestrate such scams, using “mule accounts” to funnel stolen funds before converting them into cryptocurrency to evade detection. Authorities have warned that such fraudulent schemes are on the rise, with the Indian Home Ministry previously cautioning the public about “digital arrest” scams. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also highlighted the dangers of online fraud during his “Mann Ki Baat” address last year.
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How to Protect Yourself from Such Scams
Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and take preventive measures to safeguard themselves against cyber fraud:
- Verify the Source: Never trust unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement or government officials. Always verify their identity by contacting the concerned department directly.
- Protect Your Banking Information: Do not share sensitive financial details, including bank account numbers and OTPs, with anyone over the phone.
- Scrutinize Legal Notices: If you receive a suspicious legal notice, cross-check its authenticity on official government websites.
- Exercise Caution with Financial Transactions: Government agencies do not demand money transfers for investigations. Any such request is likely fraudulent.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam, call the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or file a complaint on the Cyber Crime Portal.
As cybercriminals continue to employ increasingly sophisticated tactics, awareness and prompt action remain the best defense against financial fraud.
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