In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 61-year-old retired professor from Kolhapur was duped of a staggering Rs 78.90 lakh after criminals threatened him with a 'digital arrest' over a fictitious investment scam worth Rs 538 crore.
The Elaborate Web of Deception
The ordeal began on November 29 when the professor received a call warning that his mobile SIM would be deactivated within 24 hours. The fraud quickly escalated. A man identifying himself as Umesh Machindra appeared on a video call, dressed in a police uniform. He falsely claimed that the professor's Aadhaar details were linked to a massive Rs 538 crore investment scam and that a case was registered at Mumbai's Colaba police station.
To lend credibility to their threats, the scammers shared fabricated documents, including fake case files, official-looking correspondence, and even an arrest warrant. Throughout the day, the professor and his wife were bombarded with relentless video calls, where the criminals maintained the charade of a looming digital arrest.
Pressure Tactics and Financial Drain
The cybercriminals employed intense psychological pressure. They demanded details of the couple's bank accounts, as well as those of their relatives. In a brazen move to heighten fear, they even staged a fake court proceeding during one of the calls.
Fearing imminent arrest and humiliation, the terrified couple complied. Between November 29 and December 12, they transferred a total of Rs 78.90 lakh via RTGS and net banking to accounts specified by the fraudsters.
Police Action and a Recurring Threat
Inspector Satish Hodgar of the Rajarampuri police station registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Upon receiving the complaint, Hodgar immediately alerted the Cyber Crime department. This swift action led to the freezing of Rs 16.50 lakh, which was the last tranche of the illegally transferred funds.
This incident is not isolated. It adds to a growing list of similar scams targeting retirees in the region. In a disturbingly similar case from May, a 75-year-old retired professor was cheated out of Rs 3.6 crore, and that investigation is still ongoing.
The Kolhapur police have issued a stern warning, especially to senior citizens, to be extremely cautious of unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement or government officials. They advise verifying such claims directly with the local police station and never sharing personal or financial details under pressure.
