A 60-year-old consultant from Aundh, associated with an electrical and pipe manufacturing firm, lodged a complaint with the Pune cyber police on Friday, alleging that cybercriminals duped him and his wife of Rs 1.18 crore between March 13 and April 22. The fraudsters threatened to arrest them in a fabricated terror funding case.
Case Registered Against Cybercrooks
The Pune cyber police have registered a case of cheating against the unidentified fraudsters. According to the complainant, the criminals impersonated officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
How the Fraud Unfolded
Police reports indicate that the fraudsters initially contacted the complainant via a messaging application on March 13, posing as ED officials. They claimed that a large sum of money had been transferred from his bank account to that of the Popular Front of India (PFI), a banned organization in India. They further alleged that the funds were used by terrorists to finance activities in the country.
The suspects later informed the consultant that the case was also being investigated by the NIA and RBI, asserting that money laundering for terrorist activities had occurred.
Swapnali Shinde, senior inspector of Pune cyber police, told TOI: "Subsequently, the suspects demanded details of his Aadhaar card and bank accounts. During one of the video calls, they noticed the consultant's wife and sought her details as well. They threatened to arrest her too in the matter."
The fraudsters then sent a fake arrest warrant bearing the names of both the husband and wife, continuing to threaten them with arrest. They claimed that the arrest would bring disgrace to the family.
Extortion and Transfer of Funds
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the fraudsters promised to resolve the charges against the couple in exchange for money. The consultant subsequently transferred Rs 1.18 crore to seven bank accounts controlled by the criminals.
Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant against such scams and verify any official communication directly with the concerned agencies.
