A 67-year-old retired government employee from Ahmedabad's Nirnaynagar area has been defrauded of a staggering Rs 15.20 lakh in a sophisticated cybercrime operation. The criminals impersonated senior officials from the Mumbai Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), using threats of arrest under anti-terror laws to coerce their victim.
The Deceptive Call That Started the Nightmare
The ordeal began on November 28 when the retiree received a call from a man claiming to be "IPS Sandeep Roy from Mumbai Police." The caller falsely accused the senior citizen of having links with an Islamic organization and alleged that his Aadhaar card had been misused for money laundering activities. To prove his innocence, the frightened victim and his wife were instructed to send live photographs and images of their Aadhaar cards via WhatsApp, which they complied with immediately.
Escalation of Threats and Forged Documents
Over the following three days, the situation intensified dramatically. The fraudsters sent a series of fabricated documents to the victim to legitimize their threats. These included forged papers bearing the official seals of the Enforcement Directorate and the Supreme Court, along with fake arrest warrants and investigation papers related to terror funding.
The scam took a more organized turn when the initial caller connected the victim to another impersonator, who posed as "Pradeep Jaiswal" from the Mumbai Crime Branch. This individual demanded constant "attendance" on video calls and systematically extracted extensive personal and financial details from the couple.
The Final Blow: Money Transfers Under False Pretenses
The criminals concocted an elaborate story, convincing the retiree that the Supreme Court had ordered a verification of his bank accounts to determine if his funds were "white or black." Under this false pretext, he was instructed to transfer money to two designated bank accounts via RTGS.
Acting out of fear, the victim transferred Rs 8.5 lakh from his wife's bank account on December 1, followed by Rs 6.7 lakh from his own account on December 2. To further the deception, the fraudsters sent counterfeit "Government of India Enforcement Directorate" receipts, falsely confirming the receipt of the funds.
The victim realized he had been scammed only after consulting a friend, who advised him to immediately contact the cybercrime helpline. The Ahmedabad Cybercrime Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act for cheating, criminal conspiracy, impersonation of public servants, extortion, and forgery.
This case highlights a dangerous trend where cybercriminals exploit the names of prestigious national institutions to instill fear, particularly targeting senior citizens. Authorities urge the public to verify the identity of any official making such demands directly with the concerned department through their official contact channels and to never share personal financial details or transfer money under pressure.
