Gaya, Bihar: A schoolteacher from Gaya district in Bihar lost over ₹40 lakh after falling victim to a cyber scam involving criminals impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers. The fraudsters allegedly trapped the victim, Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Ganghar village under the Magadh University police station limits, in a fabricated case of money laundering and digital arrest.
The incident came to light when Kumar, suspecting foul play after being asked to transfer another ₹7.48 lakh, approached the Gaya Cyber Police Station and lodged a formal complaint. An FIR has been registered, and the matter is currently under investigation.
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Caught in a Web of Fear and Deception
According to the victim, the scam began when an individual named Sandeep Dagar contacted him via video call, claiming to be a senior CBI officer. Dagar accused Kumar of being involved in a money laundering case, alleging that his Aadhaar details were misused to open a bank account in Canara Bank, which had been used for transactions worth ₹17 crore. The caller further threatened Kumar with arrest and legal consequences unless he cooperated. Exploiting the teacher’s fear and trust, the fraudsters then began demanding large sums of money under various pretexts—such as securing bail from the Supreme Court, verification of bank records, and property assessments.
Fake Documents Used to Bolster the Scam
To make the operation appear authentic, the fraudsters sent forged documents by post, allegedly from the Delhi Police, Reserve Bank of India, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. These fake letters claimed that the money would be refunded after completing all verifications.
Panicked and manipulated, Kumar ended up transferring a staggering ₹40,62,700 across three separate bank accounts over a period of time. The fraud only came to light when the scammers demanded an additional ₹7.48 lakh, prompting the victim to finally recognize the deception.
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Rising Trend of Cyber Scams in Bihar
This incident underscores the growing menace of cyber fraud in Bihar, where unsuspecting individuals are frequently targeted using tactics ranging from job scams and lottery wins to threats of legal action. Despite ongoing awareness drives by the government and non-government organizations, cybercrime gangs continue to exploit emotional and psychological vulnerabilities.
Authorities have urged the public to stay alert, verify identities, and avoid transferring money based on phone calls, especially those involving fear or urgency. The Gaya Cyber Police has initiated an investigation and is tracing the suspects involved in the fraudulent scheme.