Massive ₹32 Crore Cyber Fraud Shocks Bengaluru
A 57-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru fell victim to one of the largest cyber fraud cases in recent memory, losing an astonishing ₹31.83 crore to criminals who kept her under digital arrest for nearly six months. The sophisticated scam involved impersonators claiming to be CBI officers who convinced the woman that her identity had been misused for smuggling prohibited items.
The Elaborate Scam Unfolds
The terrifying ordeal began on September 15, 2024, when the victim received a call from someone pretending to be from the Central Bureau of Investigation. The fraudster alleged that a parcel booked under her name from Andheri, Mumbai contained four passports, three credit cards, MDMA, and other prohibited items.
Although the woman repeatedly denied any connection to the parcel or having traveled to Mumbai, the scammers transferred her call to another person identifying as a CBI officer. This individual warned her that the matter was linked to cybercrime and that there was substantial evidence against her.
The fraudsters then instructed her not to inform anyone including local police, claiming that criminals were monitoring her home. Fearing for her family's safety and concerned about her son's upcoming engagement, the woman complied with their demands.
Months of Digital Surveillance and Extortion
The criminals implemented an elaborate system of control, forcing the victim to create two Skype IDs and remain on continuous video calls until the platform shut down in May. She was monitored by multiple impersonators including Mohit Handa for two days, followed by Rahul Yadav for a week, and finally by Pradeep Singh who posed as a senior CBI officer.
Between September 24 and October 22, 2024, the woman disclosed her financial details under pressure to prove her innocence. The extortion began in earnest from October 24 to November 3 when she deposited what was described as a surety amount of ₹2 crore, followed by additional payments labeled as taxes.
Acting under the fraudsters' instructions, the victim broke her fixed deposits, liquidated her savings, and transferred funds through 187 transactions totaling ₹31.83 crore. Throughout this period, she was assured that the money would be returned after verification by February 2025.
The Psychological Toll and Aftermath
The continuous pressure, threats, and surveillance left the woman mentally and physically exhausted, requiring a month of medical treatment to recover. I had to report over Skype where I was and what I was doing. Pradeep Singh was in touch daily, she told PTI.
The scammers even sent a fake clearance document before her son's engagement in December to maintain the illusion. However, after December, they began demanding additional processing charges and repeatedly postponed the promised refund from February to March before all communication suddenly ceased.
The victim waited until after her son's wedding in June before approaching police to file a formal complaint. In her complaint, she stated: In total, through 187 transactions, I stand deprived of approximately ₹31.83 crore, urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
Police have now launched a probe into what appears to be a highly sophisticated fraud racket operating across multiple jurisdictions. This case highlights the growing threat of digital arrest scams targeting educated professionals in urban centers.
