Parcel Scam: Pune Woman Scammed of Rs 20 Lakh by Fraudsters Posing as Mumbai Police Officers
Warje, 23rd July 2024: A 40-year-old woman in Pune became the target of a cyber scam in which criminals, masquerading as Mumbai police officers, threatened her with a 20-year imprisonment. The fraudsters claimed that LSD strips were found in a parcel allegedly sent by her to Iran. Exploiting her fear, they secured an instant loan of Rs 20 lakh in her name and swiftly transferred the funds.
Employed at a talent acquisition firm, the victim filed an FIR at Warje Malwadi police station. The scam commenced in early July when she received a call from an individual posing as a courier company representative. She was falsely informed that her Aadhaar card had been used to send a parcel to Iran, which was intercepted for containing expired passports, credit cards, and LSD strips. The caller then directed her to contact the Andheri police in Mumbai.
During a subsequent video call, a man impersonating a Mumbai police officer warned her of a 20-year prison sentence and asset seizure. Under duress, she shared her bank details while displaying her Aadhaar card on camera. Soon after, she received a notification of Rs 20 lakh being deposited into her account. The imposter officer claimed this transfer was for verification and instructed her to move the money to another account.
Realizing the Rs 20 lakh was an instant loan taken out in her name, the victim reported the incident to Pune’s cyber crime police. After an initial investigation, the case was transferred to the Warje Malwadi police station for further action.
