A 39-year-old software engineer was scammed out of Rs 11.8 crore in a "digital arrest" fraud after cybercriminals impersonated police officers and claimed his Aadhaar card was being misused for money laundering, police revealed on Monday.
The scam occurred between November 25 and December 12, leaving the victim shocked and distressed.
According to the police complaint, the victim received a call on November 11 from someone claiming to be a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officer. The caller alleged that his SIM card, linked to his Aadhaar, was being used for illegal advertisements and harassment messages.
Later, he was contacted by another person claiming to be a police officer, who alleged that his Aadhaar details were being used to open bank accounts for laundering money. The fraudster warned him to keep the matter confidential and threatened him with physical arrest if he refused to cooperate.
Fake investigations and threats
The victim was then asked to download Skype, where a video call from a man dressed in a Mumbai police uniform claimed a businessman had opened a fraudulent bank account in his name to conduct transactions worth Rs 6 crore.
On November 25, another individual in police uniform contacted him via Skype, stating that his case was being heard in the top court. The caller threatened to arrest his family unless he complied with their instructions.
Using fake Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines as a pretext, the fraudsters demanded that he transfer funds to various accounts for "verification purposes," warning of severe legal consequences if he failed to comply.
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Out of fear of arrest, the victim transferred Rs 11.8 crore in multiple transactions over time. However, when the scammers began demanding more money, he realized he had been duped and filed a complaint with the police.
The police have registered a case under the IT Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating and impersonation. Investigations are ongoing to track down the fraudsters and recover the lost funds.
This case highlights the dangers of digital fraud and the importance of verifying claims before taking any action.
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