A retired Navy officer lost ₹14.5 lakh after fraudsters impersonating Mumbai Police Crime Branch officials accused him of involvement in a money laundering case. The victim, an elderly ex-serviceman, was coerced into transferring his life savings to a fake account under the pretext of clearing his name.
According to investigators, the scam began with a phone call claiming that a ₹2 crore suspicious transaction had been carried out in his name, allegedly earning him a 10% commission. The fraudsters further alleged that his mobile number was linked to criminal activities and would soon be blocked.
Psychological Pressure and Fake Legal Threats
One of the callers introduced himself as “Investigating Officer Vikram Goswami” and insisted on conducting a video call interrogation. The victim was instructed to move to a secluded location for the session, under threat of immediate arrest if he informed anyone.
The scammers sent a forged arrest warrant directly to his phone and claimed that the CBI Director would interrogate him. Their caller profile displayed the official Mumbai Police logo, adding credibility to the threat.
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Fearing detention and social humiliation, the retired officer transferred ₹4.5 lakh in multiple transactions to accounts specified by the conmen, trusting their assurance that the money would be returned if he was found innocent after “investigation.”
Complaint Filed, Hunt for Culprits On
The scam unravelled on August 6 when the victim attempted to contact the numbers provided by the fraudsters to retrieve his funds, only to find them switched off. Realising the deception, he informed his family and lodged a complaint with the Cyber Police.
An FIR has been registered, and investigators are tracking the bank accounts used in the crime to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Police have also warned the public to remain vigilant against such “digital arrest” scams, which are increasingly targeting senior citizens and retired professionals.
