A fraudster impersonating the District Programme Officer (DPRO) of Meerut tricked a Block Level Officer (BLO) via video call into sharing his login credentials, siphoning ₹53,000 from his bank account within minutes.
Posed as DPRO on Video Call to Gain Trust
A new case of cyber fraud has surfaced in the Mawana area of Meerut, where a school teacher posted as a Block Level Officer (BLO) was duped by a caller posing as the District Programme Officer (DPRO).
The victim, Sompal Singh, a teacher at the Primary School in Kheri Manihar, received a video call on December 4 from an unknown number. The caller, pretending to be a senior official, reprimanded him for “working slowly” and not submitting forms on time.
During the conversation, the impostor demanded Singh’s SIR (Supervisor Information Report) details, user ID, and password. Although the teacher initially suspected a fraud attempt, the caller’s confident tone and official demeanor convinced him to share the information.
False Meeting Used to Build Credibility
After collecting the login details, the fraudster told Singh to attend an official “meeting at the tehsil office” the following morning. Shortly after the call ended, Singh’s phone abruptly switched off, and he stopped receiving transaction alerts.
A few hours later, when he turned his phone back on, he found multiple debit messages from his bank. A total of ₹53,000 had been withdrawn in four separate transactions. By the time the alerts arrived, the money had already been transferred.
Victim Files Complaint with Mawana Police
Realizing he had been cheated, Sompal Singh immediately filed a complaint at the Mawana police station. He told police that the fraudster’s confident tone and official behavior made him believe he was speaking with a real government officer.
Inspector Poonam Jadaun, the station house officer, confirmed that a written complaint has been received. “We are verifying digital transaction details and call records. The FIR will be registered after preliminary inquiry,” she said.
Cybercriminals Misusing Government Identities
Police officials noted a rising trend of fraudsters impersonating government officers to obtain sensitive information such as IDs, passwords, and OTPs. Criminals are increasingly using video calls to lend authenticity to their scams, making it harder for victims to detect deceit.
Cyber experts warned that such cases highlight the growing sophistication of digital fraud networks, where criminals exploit trust in official designations to target public servants and citizens alike.
Police Advisory: Do Not Share Details on Unknown Calls
Mawana police have urged the public to remain vigilant and never share personal or banking details over phone or video calls. “No legitimate government officer or department will ever ask for passwords or financial information over a call,” the advisory stated.
Citizens have been asked to report any suspicious calls or cyber incidents immediately to the National Cyber Helpline (1930) or through the www.cybercrime.gov.in portal.
