Retired Engineer Defrauded in Sophisticated Life Certificate Scam
An 81-year-old retired junior engineer from the Northern Railway fell victim to a devastating cyber fraud scheme, losing a staggering Rs 26 lakh to criminals posing as bank representatives. The incident occurred in Mumbai's Byculla area and highlights the growing sophistication of financial scams targeting senior citizens.
The Elaborate Scam Unfolds
The elderly gentleman was at his residence on November 12 when he received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a bank official. The fraudster informed him that the life certificate he had submitted to the bank had been rejected and needed immediate verification and updating.
Following the initial call, the scammer escalated the interaction to a WhatsApp video call, creating a false sense of legitimacy and personal connection. During this video conversation, the fraudster aggressively demanded the senior citizen's debit card details, including his confidential PIN number.
To facilitate the information theft, the criminal sent a link and pressured the retired engineer to furnish his banking credentials through it. However, the elderly man grew suspicious and frightened by the unusual requests.
Swift Financial Drain Despite Precautions
Showing remarkable presence of mind, the 81-year-old refused to enter his debit card details and PIN through the provided link. He immediately switched off his phone, believing he had prevented the fraud.
Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. When he turned his mobile phone back on two to three hours later, he was greeted with multiple text messages alerting him that substantial amounts of money were being withdrawn from his bank account.
The panicked senior citizen rushed to his bank and requested staff to freeze his account immediately. It was during this emergency visit that he discovered the horrifying truth - the fraudster had conducted several unauthorized transactions and transferred Rs 26 lakh from another of his bank accounts.
Police Investigation Underway
Following the bank officials' guidance, the victim promptly contacted the cyber helpline number 1930 to register an official complaint. He subsequently visited the central cyber police station in Worli, carrying crucial evidence including screenshots of the fraudulent bank transactions.
Mumbai Police confirmed that a formal case was registered on Tuesday against the unknown fraudster. A cyber police station officer stated, "We have been checking the bank transactions and are trying to find out the culprit." The investigation continues as authorities work to track down the perpetrators behind this sophisticated financial crime.
This distressing incident serves as a critical reminder for all banking customers, particularly senior citizens, to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls and messages regarding financial matters. Banks never ask for sensitive information like PINs or passwords through phone calls, WhatsApp, or suspicious links.
