Gandhinagar Woman Loses Rs 99 Lakh in Elaborate Cyber Fraud Scheme
A 65-year-old retired teacher from Sector 8 in Gandhinagar has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing a staggering Rs 99 lakh over 27 days. The fraudsters, posing as officials from the telecom department and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), manipulated her into believing she was implicated in a money laundering case. On Saturday, she filed a formal complaint with the Gandhinagar Police's cyber cell, highlighting the alarming tactics used in this elaborate scam.
How the Fraud Unfolded: A Timeline of Deception
The incident began on January 16, when the woman received a call from an individual claiming to represent the telecom department. The caller alleged that a SIM card purchased using her identity was being utilized for illegal activities, immediately instilling fear and confusion. The call was then transferred to another person who identified himself as a CBI officer, who escalated the situation by asserting that her bank account was linked to a significant money laundering case involving large transactions.
Over the subsequent days, the fraudsters intensified their pressure through WhatsApp messages and video calls, with individuals posing as senior CBI officials. They informed her that arrest warrants and court orders had been issued in her name, and to lend credibility to their claims, they sent forged documents bearing the names of reputable agencies such as the Supreme Court of India and the Mumbai Crime Branch. These documents were meticulously crafted to appear genuine, further entrapping the victim in their web of deceit.
The Financial Drain: Instructions and Transfers
Police reports indicate that the woman was instructed to download the Signal app for secure communication. Under the guise of verification to avoid arrest and the freezing of her accounts, she was coerced into transferring funds from her bank and post office accounts. Between February 5 and February 13, she executed four RTGS transactions, totaling Rs 99,00,047, to accounts provided by the accused in various banks, including ICICI Bank and IndusInd Bank.
When the promised return of funds failed to materialize, the woman realized she had been cheated. She contacted the cyber helpline on February 16 and subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the authorities. This case underscores the critical need for heightened awareness and vigilance against such sophisticated cyber frauds, which exploit trust in official institutions to devastating effect.
