A 78-year-old homemaker, who happens to be the sister-in-law of a prominent builder in south Mumbai, fell prey to a cyber fraud scheme, losing a staggering amount of Rs 1.5 crore. The unfortunate incident unfolded when the fraudsters, pretending to be members of a Special Investigation Team from Delhi Special Police, initiated contact with the elderly woman. These scammers utilized intimidation tactics, claiming that she was under investigation for money laundering. They even alleged that a courier addressed to her contained illegal substances, including 2000 mg of mephedrone and 2,000 US dollars.
The sequence of events began on December 5, when the victim engaged the services of a courier company to send food items to her daughter residing in the United States. The following day, she received a call from an individual identifying himself as Amit Kumar, purportedly employed by the courier company. Shockingly, the caller asserted that the parcel not only contained personal documents like her Aadhaar card and expired passports but also illicit items – 2000 mg of MDMA drugs and USD 2000 in cash. To compound matters, they dragged her into a fabricated money laundering case, depicting her as a co-conspirator along with two others.
Subsequent communications saw the fraudsters posing as police officers and representatives from the Cyber Crime Branch and Finance Department, intensifying their pressure on the victim by issuing threats of legal action and imminent arrest. Their tactics included staging video calls where they appeared to be law enforcement officials, brandishing false warrants and investigation reports on the victim’s WhatsApp platform.
Under duress, the victim divulged her personal banking details, eventually succumbing to their demands by transferring a substantial sum of Rs 1.51 crore to the accounts provided by the fraudsters. She believed this action was crucial to “secure” her assets amidst the ongoing investigation. It wasn’t until a casual conversation with a close relative that she realized the gravity of the situation and promptly alerted the authorities. The incident was promptly reported to the Cybercrime Police Helpline at 1930 hours, leading to the registration of her complaint and the subsequent transfer of the case to the South Cyber Cell of the Mumbai Police.
An official associated with the investigation revealed that the fraudsters operated through multiple bank accounts, swiftly siphoning off the funds as soon as they were transferred. Cybercrime experts underscored the importance of remaining vigilant against such scams, particularly those targeting vulnerable individuals like the elderly. They emphasized the need to verify the authenticity of claims made by unknown callers, abstain from sharing sensitive information, and promptly report any suspicious activity.
In conclusion, this distressing incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by cyber fraudsters and the critical importance of safeguarding personal information and financial assets. Authorities continue to advocate for heightened awareness and caution among the public, urging individuals to exercise diligence in their interactions and promptly report any suspicious or coercive tactics employed by potential scammers.