Pune: Hinjawadi Woman Duped of Rs 25 Lakh by Fake NCB Officers in Online Scam
Hinjawadi, 27th July 2024: A 36-year-old woman from Hinjawadi was duped of Rs 25 lakh by perpetrators posing as officers from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai. The caller claimed to be an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and informed her that a package in her name, destined for Iran, was found to contain drugs. This incident occurred online between July 23rd and 25th.
The woman, a resident of Phase 3, filed a complaint with the Hinjawadi Police Station. The police have registered a case against the holder of ICICI Bank account number 588505500012 and the Skype ID “9009 MUMBAI NCB DEPARTMENT” under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 336 (forgery), Section 340 (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine), Section 318 (cheating), and Section 316 (criminal breach of trust).
According to police reports, the woman received a Skype call from the aforementioned Skype ID. The caller identified himself as an IPS officer from the Mumbai NCB and claimed that a package in her name was being sent to Iran from Mumbai, containing drugs. He warned her that this could result in drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Gaining her trust, the caller convinced her to transfer money to the ICICI Bank account, promising that no case would be registered against her. The woman transferred Rs 24,99,998 but, realizing she had been duped, rushed to the police. Police Sub-Inspector Jhol from Hinjawadi Police Station is investigating the matter further.
