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A 78-year-old retired corporate executive from Chembur, Mumbai, was allegedly cheated of ₹1.9 crore by cyber fraudsters posing as Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and police officers. The accused threatened to implicate her in a terror-funding case linked to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack and kept her under virtual surveillance for nearly a month.
According to police, the fraudsters claimed that a bank account opened in the woman’s name had received money from Mohammad Asif, alias Asif Fauji, whom they linked to the Pahalgam terror attack. They subsequently forced her to sell shares, prematurely withdraw fixed deposits and transfer the proceeds to designated bank accounts for supposed verification.
The fraud allegedly continued between October 6 and November 1, during which the victim was repeatedly threatened with arrest and instructed not to disclose the matter to anyone.
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Fraudsters Pose as ATS Officers, Threaten Arrest in Terror-Funding Case
The victim, who lives with her 80-year-old husband in Chembur, received her first WhatsApp call on October 6 from an unidentified woman claiming that her identity documents had been misused for money laundering.
Shortly afterwards, another person contacted her through a WhatsApp video call while dressed in a police uniform.
The caller instructed her to isolate herself in a separate room and close the door, presenting the conversation as part of a confidential investigation.
The fraudsters claimed that a bank account had been opened in her name in Hubballi, Karnataka, and that it had received funds from Mohammad Asif, alias Asif Fauji, described by the callers as a suspect in the Pahalgam terror attack.
They threatened to arrest the woman for alleged involvement in terror financing and claimed that plainclothes police officers had been deployed outside her housing society.
The victim was instructed not to leave her home and to provide hourly updates. She was also directed to download the encrypted messaging application Signal for further communication.
Woman Sells Shares, Breaks Fixed Deposits and Transfers ₹1.9 Crore
Two fraudsters identifying themselves as ATS officer Ajay Mehta and police commissioner Rakesh Agrawal allegedly pressured the woman to liquidate her financial assets.
According to investigators, the accused instructed her to visit a stockbroking firm in Chembur and sell her equity shareholdings.
She was also forced to prematurely withdraw money from fixed deposits and consolidate the proceeds in her savings accounts.
The fraudsters subsequently sent forged letters purportedly issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), directing her to transfer the money for verification.
They assured her that the entire amount would be returned once the alleged investigation was completed.
Between October 14 and October 26, the woman transferred approximately ₹1.9 crore into three bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
Despite receiving the money, the accused continued demanding further payments.
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The woman eventually contacted her nephew, a physician based in the United States, after the fraudsters demanded additional money.
After hearing the circumstances, her nephew informed her that she had been targeted by cybercriminals rather than genuine law enforcement officials.
The victim subsequently reported the incident through the national cybercrime helpline.
Mumbai’s East Cyber Police registered a case against unidentified persons under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
The allegations include cheating, impersonation, wrongful confinement and identity theft.
Police are investigating the fraudulent transactions and the bank accounts used to receive the money.
The case involves a digital arrest fraud in which criminals allegedly exploited fears of terrorism-related prosecution, impersonated senior law enforcement officials and used forged RBI correspondence to obtain the victim’s savings.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
