Social Engineering Tactics Used, Victim Pressured with Alleged Nareish Goyal Money Laundering Case.
Mumbai – A shocking cyber fraud case targeting senior citizens has come to light in Mumbai. An 80-year-old woman from Dadar was duped of ₹1.08 crore by fraudsters who impersonated a TRAI officer and Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla, creating such fear that the victim transferred her life savings to accounts provided by the scammers. The Central Region Cyber Police Station has registered a case and initiated an investigation.
Victim’s Background: Former Secretary at Glaxo, Living on a Pension
According to police sources, the victim had previously worked as a secretary at the renowned pharmaceutical company Glaxo. She is currently managing her household expenses from her pension and accumulated life savings, distributed across multiple bank accounts.
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From October 27, she began receiving repeated calls from unknown numbers. The callers claimed that her Aadhaar card was linked to a major money laundering case and that her name appeared in connection with suspicious financial transactions.
Fraudsters Invoke Nareish Goyal Case to Exert Pressure
The victim told investigators that the callers asserted her involvement in a serious financial scam allegedly linked to businessman Nareish Goyal. They warned that failure to cooperate could result in her arrest, heightening her anxiety and making her compliant to their instructions.
The fraudsters used authoritative language and intimidation tactics to convince her that they were legitimate government officials.
‘Verification’ Demand Leads to Transfers Worth ₹1.08 Crore
The victim was instructed to transfer funds from her bank accounts to designated accounts for “verification.” Fearing legal action and being misled by the scamsters’ claims, she complied, transferring ₹1.08 crore across multiple accounts.
Police officials noted that such frauds typically involve repeated calls and pressure tactics, exploiting fear of legal or regulatory consequences.
Case Reported After Victim Suspects Fraud
The victim realized something was wrong only after checking her accounts. Discussions with family and bank officials revealed that she had fallen victim to a well-coordinated cyber scam. Subsequently, the Central Region Cyber Police Station filed cases against two unidentified individuals and also named the account holders who received the funds.
Police Investigate Calls, Banking Trails, and Digital Footprints
Investigators are now scrutinizing call records, banking trails, UPI and net banking logs, and the IP addresses and device footprints of the accounts involved. Authorities suspect that the scammers may be part of an organized social engineering network that targets senior citizens by exploiting personal data and fear tactics.
Safety Advisory for Senior Citizens
Police have reiterated that no government or law enforcement agency asks for money from bank accounts for “verification.” Any unsolicited call claiming to represent authorities or threatening arrest, particularly those asking for Aadhaar or PAN-linked financial transfers, should be treated as suspicious.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud targeting the elderly and emphasizes the need for vigilance and timely reporting to authorities.
