Pune: Cybercrooks Impersonate Police and CBI to Scam 68-Year-Old Man of Rs 81 Lakh
Sangvi, 10th June 2024: Cybercrooks recently duped a 68-year-old man from Pimple Saudagar out of Rs 81 lakh by impersonating Mumbai police and CBI officials. The fraudsters pressured the victim, claiming his bank account was being used for money laundering, and extracted money from him between May 21 and 23 under the pretext of returning it to his account within 72 hours.
The victim filed a complaint with the Sangvi police on June 5. According to an officer from the Sangvi police, the ordeal began on May 21 when the victim received a call from an unknown number. A woman on the line informed him that Mumbai police had received 24 complaints of illegal advertising and harassment linked to his and his wife’s cellphone numbers, which would be blocked within two hours.
“The woman told the elderly man that if he wanted to keep the numbers active, he needed to talk to a police official, and she immediately connected him with a purported police sub-inspector from Mumbai police,” the officer said.
The alleged police officer then informed the victim that his bank account was being used for money laundering. When the victim stated that he did not have an account in the specified bank, the suspect told him that an inquiry would follow. The fraudster proceeded to extract personal details from the victim, including family background and financial status.
The scammers intensified their ruse by showing the victim a fake ‘Supreme Court’ order on a video call, threatening arrest and the freezing of his bank account. The victim was then connected with an imposter posing as a ‘CBI chief’ who instructed him to undergo a priority investigation to have the order rescinded.
The victim was asked to deposit Rs 60 lakh into a purported CBI account, with the promise that the money would be refunded within 72 hours. Trusting the scammers, the victim transferred the money via RTGS. Subsequently, they demanded an additional Rs 21 lakh under the guise of checking another bank account.
Eventually, the victim became suspicious, ceased responding to the callers, and approached the police for help. The Sangvi police are investigating the case.
