A 61-year-old woman from Thane, who had worked as a baby caretaker in Dubai, has allegedly been cheated of ₹15.76 lakh by fraudsters who claimed that a parcel containing valuables from abroad had arrived for her at Mumbai airport, police said.
Parcel Claim Used to Pressure Victim
The woman, who lives near Thane railway station in Maharashtra, alleged that two persons contacted her on her Dubai mobile number on April 14. They told her that her gold ornaments and a high-end phone had arrived at Mumbai airport from Italy, an official from Naupada police station said.
According to police, the callers claimed that the consignment had to be cleared before April 22. They allegedly threatened that if she failed to do so, she would face legal action and would not be allowed to return to Dubai.
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Multiple Calls and WhatsApp Account Details
The fraudsters allegedly made repeated calls to the woman from different numbers. They also shared bank account details through WhatsApp and coerced her into transferring money on several occasions.
Under pressure and fear of arrest, the woman transferred ₹15,76,000 into various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters, the official said.
Case Filed Against Two Unidentified Persons
The woman approached police on Tuesday, after which a case was registered against two unidentified persons. The case has been filed under Sections 318(4), relating to cheating, and 3(5), relating to common intention, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police said efforts are underway to trace the culprits.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
