In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a doctor based in New Delhi was systematically manipulated into transferring a staggering sum of Rs 14.84 crore to criminals impersonating law enforcement officials. The elaborate scam, which unfolded over two weeks, highlights the sophisticated tactics used by fraudsters to exploit fear and authority.
The Systematic Drain: A Timeline of Transactions
According to police sources and an analysis of bank transactions, Dr Indra Taneja was coerced into moving money into seven different bank accounts between December 26 last year and January 9. The transfers happened in eight distinct tranches, demonstrating a sustained campaign of psychological pressure.
The financial bleed began with a transaction of Rs 1.99 crore on December 26. This was followed by two more transfers of Rs 2 crore each on December 29 and 30. As the new year began, the payments continued: Rs 2 crore on January 2, Rs 2.05 crore on January 5, Rs 2.1 crore on January 6, and Rs 2.2 crore on January 8. The final transfer of Rs 50 lakh was made on January 9, bringing the total to a devastating Rs 14.84 crore.
The Unraveling at the Police Station
The plot began to collapse on January 10, when the fraudsters, in a bold move, instructed Dr Taneja and her husband to visit their nearest police station. They claimed a "clearance certificate" would be issued and the entire amount refunded after verification.
When Dr Indra Taneja went to the C R Park police station, she was on a WhatsApp video call with a scammer who identified himself as policeman D K Gupta. Upon hearing that the Station House Officer (SHO) would meet her, the impersonator "simply vanished," Dr Taneja recounted. Another person immediately took his place on the call, also claiming to be a police officer.
The situation escalated when Dr Taneja handed her phone to the C R Park SHO. The fraudster on the call spoke to the real officer in a rude and authoritative manner. "The fraudster kept on saying, ‘Unka paisa release kar do, tumhare paas order aaya hoga (release her money... you must have got the order),'" Dr Taneja recalled. This led to a heated argument, after which the SHO instructed her to disconnect the call immediately, confirming it was a clear case of cyber fraud.
Final Attempts and Aftermath
In a last-ditch effort to control the narrative, the scammers called Dr Taneja's husband, Dr Om Taneja. They instructed him to tell his wife to leave the police station at once. However, by then, the couple had realized the truth. Dr Om Taneja hung up the call, aware they had been defrauded of millions.
Investigators state that the pattern of transactions reflects sustained psychological pressure and manipulation. The case serves as a severe warning about the advanced methods used by cybercriminals, who exploit trust in institutions like the police to commit financial crimes. Authorities are now investigating the trail of money through the seven bank accounts to identify the perpetrators behind this major online scam.
