Pune Retired Official Defrauded of Rs 2 Crore in Sophisticated Cyber Scam
In a shocking incident of cyber fraud, a 70-year-old retired Maharashtra government official from Erandwane, Pune, filed a complaint with the cybercrime police on Wednesday, alleging that he was duped of over Rs 2 crore by online fraudsters between January 13 and February 4. The scammers threatened him with arrest in a fabricated money laundering case, exploiting his fears through impersonation and intimidation tactics.
Fraudsters Impersonate Officials from DPBI and NIA
According to police reports, the fraudsters posed as officials from the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) and falsely accused the victim of communicating with members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), labeling his actions as suspicious. Senior inspector Swapnali Shinde of the cybercrime police detailed that the suspects claimed the victim's phone number had been used to cheat people of Rs 1.5 crore and alleged his involvement in terror-related activities linked to the PFI.
The fraudsters repeatedly video-called the victim while masquerading as officials from DPBI, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Delhi police, threatening him with imminent arrest if he did not comply with their demands. This relentless psychological pressure created a sense of urgency and fear, leading the retiree to divulge sensitive financial information.
Victim Forced to Disclose Bank Account Details
Shinde explained that citing transactions of Rs 1.5 crore, the fraudsters coerced the Erandwane resident into revealing details of his two bank accounts. During the conversations, the scammers also inquired about his wife and forced him to disclose details of her bank account, expanding their reach to exploit multiple sources of funds. The FIR noted that the fraudsters misled the victim by falsely claiming the case was being heard by the Supreme Court and that he could be arrested at any moment.
The officer added, "The fraudsters told the victim, who retired from the state government's rural development department, that they had the power to suppress the case against him if he paid them." This deceptive promise of legal immunity played a crucial role in convincing the retiree to part with his life savings.
Financial Devastation: Retirement Benefits and Fixed Deposits Lost
As a result of the threats and false assurances, the victim transferred a total of Rs 2.02 crore to nine different bank accounts provided by the fraudsters, using funds from both his and his wife's accounts. Shinde revealed that he exhausted all his retirement benefits and had to break his fixed deposits to meet the scammers' demands, highlighting the severe financial and emotional toll of the scam. This case underscores the growing sophistication of cyber fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly retirees with substantial savings.
The Pune cybercrime police are actively investigating the matter, urging the public to remain vigilant against such impersonation scams and to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be from law enforcement agencies before sharing personal or financial information.
