A resident of Chandigarh has fallen victim to a highly sophisticated cyber fraud, resulting in a staggering financial loss of ₹27 lakh. The elaborate scam, which unfolded over several days, saw fraudsters impersonating officials from the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to siphon off the money.
The Elaborate Web of Deception
The incident began when the victim, whose identity is being protected, received a phone call. The caller, posing as an executive from a courier company, informed him that a parcel addressed to him containing illegal items like passports and drugs had been intercepted by authorities. To add credibility, the call was then transferred to individuals claiming to be officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch.
These fake officials accused the Chandigarh resident of serious money laundering charges. They then introduced a supposed RBI officer into the scheme. Under the guise of verifying his accounts and securing his funds during the 'investigation,' the fraudsters manipulated the victim into revealing sensitive banking details and One-Time Passwords (OTPs).
How The Money Was Siphoned Off
Using the information obtained through intimidation and deceit, the cyber criminals gained complete access to the victim's bank accounts. They proceeded to make a series of unauthorized transactions, ultimately transferring a total of ₹27,00,000 (Twenty-Seven Lakh Rupees) to various accounts under their control. The entire operation was meticulously planned to create a sense of urgency and fear, leaving the victim with little time to think rationally or verify the claims.
Realizing he had been duped, the victim approached the Chandigarh Police and filed a formal complaint. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to cheating and impersonation, along with provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act. The Cyber Crime cell of the police has initiated an investigation to trace the money and identify the perpetrators.
A Stark Reminder for Digital Citizens
This case highlights the evolving tactics of cyber criminals who exploit fear and authority to commit financial fraud. Posing as law enforcement or government officials is a common ploy to lend legitimacy to their scams.
Authorities have reiterated crucial safety guidelines for the public:
- No genuine police officer, RBI official, or bank executive will ever ask for your online banking passwords, PINs, or OTPs over the phone.
- Be extremely skeptical of unsolicited calls alleging legal trouble or financial irregularities.
- Never share personal or financial information with unknown callers.
- Verify the identity of the caller by contacting the concerned organization directly using official contact details from their website or documents.
- If in doubt, immediately disconnect the call and report the number to the cyber crime helpline.
The Chandigarh Police are urging citizens to remain vigilant and spread awareness about such modus operandi to prevent others from falling into similar traps. The investigation into this specific ₹27 lakh fraud is ongoing as authorities work to follow the digital trail left by the scammers.
