In a distressing incident highlighting the vulnerability of senior citizens to digital scams, an 82-year-old woman living alone in Mumbai's Mulund area was defrauded of nearly Rs 5 lakh by criminals impersonating officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The elaborate con, executed over a WhatsApp video call, involved threats of arrest and fake legal documents.
The Elaborate Video Call Con
The victim, a retired assistant manager who lost her husband in 2012, received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number on Monday. The caller, claiming to represent the ED, sternly instructed her not to disconnect the call. The line was then transferred to a woman who identified herself as Officer Kavita.
This impersonator alleged that a transaction of Rs 2 crore, linked to terror funding, had been detected in the elderly woman's bank account. She threatened severe legal action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). To add credibility to their claims, the fraudsters shared a letter on a forged ED letterhead.
Threats of 'Digital Arrest' and Coercion
The scam took a more sinister turn when the fake officials told the victim that 247 ATM cards had been seized by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the case and that she had been placed under 'digital arrest'. When the terrified octogenarian professed her ignorance, they demanded her bank account statements.
Acting under the instructions of 'Kavita', the victim consolidated all her savings into one bank account. On Wednesday, she proceeded to transfer the entire amount—approximately Rs 5 lakh—to the fraudsters' account via an RTGS transaction, believing it was necessary to resolve the fictitious case against her.
How the Fraud Was Uncovered
The crime came to light only after the victim's Dubai-based son received a bank notification alerting him to the substantial funds transfer. He immediately contacted his mother, realised she had been duped, and helped her approach the police.
Subsequently, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Navghar police station on Thursday. The police have booked unknown persons under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The investigation is ongoing.
This case underscores a dangerous trend where cyber criminals exploit the names of authoritative government agencies like the ED to instil fear and extract money from vulnerable targets, particularly the elderly living alone. It serves as a critical reminder for family members to regularly educate their older relatives about such sophisticated digital threats and to establish safeguards for their finances.
