Cyber Fraudsters Dupe Army Veteran of Rs.3.1 Crore, Threatening Money Laundering Charges

Mumbai Police launch search for perpetrators in elaborate cyber scam involving fake TRAI and police officials.

June 20, 2024

In a sophisticated cyber fraud that spanned over two weeks, an Army veteran in his 60s was swindled out of ₹3.1 crore by scammers posing as government officials. The fraudsters, posing as officers from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Mumbai Police, manipulated and threatened the veteran with false charges, including money laundering, harassment, and national security issues.

The incident began in early May when the veteran received a call from a man claiming to be a TRAI officer. The caller falsely informed him that the Mumbai Police had launched a search for him due to charges of harassment via illegal messaging. The veteran, refuting the charges, was then connected to a person posing as an officer from Nehru Nagar police station in Mumbai. This fake officer, identifying himself as a serving IPS officer posted in Pune, falsely claimed that the veteran’s name had come up in a major money laundering case and that an arrest warrant had been issued against him.

The fraudsters coerced the veteran into downloading a video calling application and making a video call to an address. On the call, a man dressed in a police uniform, speaking into a walkie-talkie, appeared to lend credibility to the scam. The veteran was threatened with a CBI investigation and told that his situation was linked to national security. He was even led to believe that his life was in danger.

Over the course of the next two weeks, the veteran was manipulated into making nearly a dozen transactions, transferring a total of ₹3.1 crore to fraudulent accounts spread across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and West Bengal. Realizing he had been cheated, the veteran approached the Cyber Crime police in Pune, where an FIR was registered.

Cyber investigators have launched a probe into the case, noting that the fraudsters exploited social engineering tactics to manipulate the victim through threats of legal action and arrest. The incident highlights the growing threat of cybercrime and the need for increased awareness and caution.

In response to such scams, the Department of Telecommunications issued an advisory on May 14, urging citizens not to respond to fake calls threatening disconnection of their mobile numbers or alleging misuse of their numbers in illegal activities.