A 72-year-old retired official from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has become the latest victim of a sophisticated digital arrest fraud, losing his life savings of Rs 28 lakh to cybercriminals. The incident, which took place in the Baramati taluka of Pune district, has sent shockwaves through the community and highlights the evolving tactics of online fraudsters.
The Elaborate Digital Trap
The ordeal began on November 30 when the victim, while at a local market, received a call from an unknown number. A woman on the line identified herself as an official from the telecom department. She informed the senior citizen that his mobile number was being misused for illegal activities. The call was then swiftly transferred to a man who claimed to be an officer with the Mumbai police.
This fake police officer instructed the retired official to return home immediately and warned him not to discuss the matter with anyone. He was told that his name had appeared in a serious money laundering case and that a non-bailable arrest warrant had been issued against him. Fearing imminent arrest, the victim complied.
Psychological Terror and Financial Drain
Once the victim reached home, the fraudsters escalated their psychological manipulation. They ordered him and his wife to lock themselves in a room. The caller alleged that suspicious transactions worth a staggering Rs 2 crore had been traced to his bank account. Another individual, posing as a senior police officer, joined the call and falsely linked the victim to a massive Rs 538 crore financial fraud case.
To instill absolute fear, the scammers spun a terrifying narrative. They claimed that accomplices of a businessman involved in the case could harm him, and that police in plain clothes were deployed outside his house for protection. In a gruesome attempt to ensure compliance, they cited a fabricated story where a witness's daughter was sexually assaulted and his wife and son were killed for revealing names in court. They even referenced the arrests of former chief ministers to add credibility to their threats.
Under this immense pressure, the victim revealed details of his bank balance and property. On December 4, he was coerced into transferring Rs 10 lakh to a specified bank account.
The Fake Court Hearing and Gold Mortgage
The fraudsters then orchestrated an audacious virtual proceeding, staging a fake Supreme Court hearing with individuals impersonating a judge and a lawyer. During this sham proceeding, they reiterated the need for secrecy. Subsequently, they convinced the victim to share photographs of his gold jewellery and persuaded him to mortgage it.
The distressed senior citizen took a gold loan of Rs 18 lakh and transferred this entire amount to another bank account as instructed by the criminals. The fraudsters remained in contact with him, inquiring about other investments, until December 13.
The Realization and Police Complaint
The scam finally unraveled when the victim confided in his son about the entire situation. Upon hearing the details, the son immediately realized it was an elaborate fraud. After coming to terms with the deception, the victim and his son approached the Pune Rural police and lodged a formal complaint on December 26.
Preliminary police investigations have traced the transferred money to two private bank accounts—one located in Jagtial, Telangana, and the other in Bengaluru, Karnataka. An officer from the Pune Rural police confirmed that they have sought detailed transaction records from the banks, and a further investigation is underway.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the cruel sophistication of modern cybercrime, which preys on fear and authority to devastating effect, especially targeting vulnerable senior citizens.
