In a shocking case of cyber fraud that highlights the audacity of modern-day scammers, a woman from Gujarat was duped of a staggering Rs 3.71 crore. The elaborate con involved an accused person brazenly impersonating a sitting Supreme Court judge, Justice DY Chandrachud, to gain the victim's trust. The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested one individual in connection with the sophisticated scam.
The Anatomy of a Multi-Crore Deception
The incident came to light when the victim, a resident of Ahmedabad, filed a complaint with the local cyber crime cell. According to the police report, the fraud began when the woman received a phone call from a person claiming to be a senior official from the Mumbai Customs department. The caller informed her that a parcel addressed to her, containing illegal items, had been intercepted.
To add credibility to the threat, the caller then connected her to another individual who pretended to be a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer. This fake officer alleged that her bank accounts were linked to serious financial crimes and money laundering activities. Fearing legal repercussions, the victim was coerced into following their instructions to "prove her innocence."
The scam took an even more astonishing turn when, to resolve the fabricated case, the fraudsters introduced a person posing as Supreme Court Justice DY Chandrachud. The impersonator, communicating with the victim, promised to help settle the matter but demanded significant funds for the process. Over a period, under immense psychological pressure, the woman transferred a total of Rs 3,71,00,000 to various bank accounts provided by the accused.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Acting on the victim's complaint, the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police launched a detailed investigation. Tracking the digital trail and bank transactions, the police team identified and apprehended one suspect believed to be part of the larger racket. The arrested accused, whose role in the elaborate scheme is under scrutiny, is currently in police custody.
Investigators revealed that the fraudsters used sophisticated social engineering tactics, spoofed phone numbers, and created a false narrative involving multiple government agencies to create a sense of urgency and fear. The use of a Supreme Court judge's identity marked a dangerous escalation in the methods employed by cyber criminals to exploit citizens.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for cheating and impersonation, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act. The search for other members of the syndicate is ongoing, as the police work to trace the flow of the siphoned money.
Rising Trend of Authority-Figure Impersonation Scams
This case is not an isolated one but part of a disturbing national trend where scammers impersonate figures of authority to execute high-value frauds. Common tactics include:
- Posing as officials from tax departments, police, or judiciary.
- Creating fake scenarios involving arrests, fines, or legal cases.
- Demanding money for settlement, bail, or to "secure" bank accounts.
- Using VoIP calls and compromised phone numbers to appear genuine.
Cyber security experts and police authorities consistently advise the public to be extremely cautious of unsolicited calls demanding money or personal information. They emphasize that no legitimate government agency or court judge will ever ask for money over the phone or through messaging apps to settle a case. Citizens are urged to verify such claims independently by contacting the concerned department or office through their official channels before taking any action.
The Gujarat police have reiterated warnings about such scams and encouraged people to report suspicious calls immediately to the cyber crime helpline (1930) or their local police station to prevent financial loss.
