The ordeal began in May 2023, when the victim received a phone call from someone claiming to be Alok Mehta, an EPFO officer from New Delhi. Mehta alleged that the victim’s provident fund dues were pending and demanded ₹7,230 in “security charges” for their release. Once the victim paid the amount, he received what appeared to be an authentic letter via WhatsApp—complete with a Government of India seal—promising ₹63.08 lakh in dues, conditional on a further ₹3.8 lakh payment.
Hooked by the official tone and documentation, the retiree fell deeper into the trap. Over the next ten months, he was persuaded to transfer ₹60 lakh more in the name of fees, verification charges, and tax clearances.
‘CBI Scrutiny’ and Counterfeit Cheques
In March 2024, a woman identifying herself as Mahi Sharma contacted the victim, claiming to be a CBI officer from the Mumbai office. She informed him that Mehta had been arrested for misappropriation and that the victim’s PF file had now come under CBI investigation.
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Sharma assured the retiree that his dues would be paid soon. To reinforce her credibility, she sent him a cheque for the full amount but warned that taxes and “no-objection certificate” charges needed to be paid as the PF amount crossed ₹1 crore. The victim kept transferring funds as instructed until November 2024.
It was only when he attempted to encash the cheque—only to be told it was counterfeit—that the reality of the scam dawned on him.
Police Action and Probing the Network
The retiree approached the West Cyber Police, who registered an FIR on May 28, 2025. Authorities are now investigating the bank accounts and digital trails used by the scam syndicate, who impersonated officials, issued fake letters, and manipulated one of the country’s most trusted bureaucratic systems.
Senior officials suggest this may be part of a larger organized fraud ring operating under the guise of government departments. Investigators are tracing WhatsApp numbers, bank transactions, and call detail records.