Mumbai: An 80-year-old retired government officer in Mumbai was defrauded of ₹26.20 lakh after cybercriminals impersonating Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police officers threatened to implicate him in a fabricated case of human trafficking and SIM card fraud. The incident was reported to the North Region Cyber Police, who have registered an FIR and launched an investigation.
According to police, the fraudsters manipulated the victim by sending fake legal documents and an arrest warrant, eventually convincing him to transfer money to avoid supposed prosecution.
Fake Allegations and Threats of Arrest
Police said the fraud began on November 25, when the victim, vacationing in Nashik with his wife, received a call from a man identifying himself as Vinay Sharma, an officer with Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police. Sharma claimed the victim’s name had surfaced in a human trafficking racket and that 187 SIM cards had been issued under his identity.
He further alleged that an IndusInd Bank account in Matunga branch, opened in the victim’s name, had received ₹30 lakh in illegal proceeds. Sharma told the victim that his superior, Sandeep Rao, an officer from Ashok Nagar Police Station, would soon record his statement and arrest him for further questioning in Bengaluru.
‘Official Secrets Act’ Used to Create Fear
Investigators said the fraudsters sent the victim a case registration number and a forged arrest warrant via WhatsApp, making the case appear authentic. To intimidate him further, they warned that if he discussed the matter with anyone, he would be charged under the Official Secrets Act for revealing classified information.
Terrified, the elderly man agreed to cooperate and requested to speak with “Rao,” the supposed senior investigating officer. The next day, he received a video call from the person posing as Rao, who advised him to disclose his financial details to “prove his innocence.”
Victim Transfers ₹26.20 Lakh to Fraudsters
Convinced by the elaborate deception, the victim shared his bank details and one-time passwords (OTPs), believing that doing so would help him resolve the case. Moments later, he discovered that ₹26.20 lakh had been withdrawn from his accounts.
Realizing he had been cheated, the victim filed a complaint with the North Region Cyber Police, which has since traced the transactions to multiple accounts under investigation. Officials suspect the funds were routed through a network of mule accounts before being transferred digitally to other states.
Police Investigation Underway
A senior officer from the Mumbai Cyber Police said efforts are ongoing to trace the suspects and recover the stolen funds. The case is being investigated under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act related to cheating and impersonation.
“Such scams exploit fear and authority. Victims are tricked into believing they are under investigation, forcing them to comply,” the officer said, adding that elderly citizens are increasingly being targeted in digital impersonation and extortion scams.
Advisory for Citizens
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited calls claiming to be from law enforcement or government agencies. Police emphasized that no legitimate officer will demand money or sensitive information over the phone and that verification through official helplines should be the first step.
Cyber officials also appealed to the public to report suspicious calls immediately through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the cybercrime.gov.in portal for prompt action.
