A retired government officer from Pune faced a devastating double blow from cyber criminals within a single month, losing his entire life savings in a sophisticated digital arrest scam, only to be targeted again by fraudsters with a bizarre twist.
First Encounter: A Costly Digital Arrest
The retired officer's ordeal began in October, when he received a call from individuals posing as law enforcement. The fraudsters informed him that his bank account and Aadhaar card had been misused in serious money laundering and financial fraud cases. They threatened him with immediate arrest unless he paid a substantial sum to "settle" the fictitious case.
Fearing legal action, the victim complied. He exhausted all his savings and prematurely withdrew his fixed deposits. In total, he transferred a staggering Rs 1.07 crore to four different bank accounts as instructed by the criminals, according to Senior Inspector Swapnali Shinde of the Pune Cyber Police. This first encounter left him financially ruined.
The Bizarre Second Act: A Fraudster's 'Guidance'
In November, barely a month after the first incident, the retired officer received another call. This time, the impersonator claimed to be an officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch. The caller again alleged there was an arrest warrant against the retiree in a money laundering case.
However, the plot took an unusual turn. When the retired man explained his previous victimization and that he had no money left, the second fraudster changed tactics. Instead of demanding payment, the bogus policeman directed the victim to the Pune Cyber Police station in Shivajinagar to file a complaint against the first set of criminals.
A Video Call from the Police Station
Following these instructions, the retired officer walked into the police station while still on a video call with the second fraudster. He handed his phone to a police constable to speak with the caller.
"The fraudster on the other side of the phone immediately switched from the video call to the voice call mode," recounted Senior Inspector Shinde. The impersonator told the police that the retired person had been cheated by someone else and requested them to register a case.
After the call ended, the victim narrated his full plight to the officers. The Pune Cyber Police have now registered a formal case regarding the initial fraud of Rs 1.07 crore. The investigation into both sets of cyber criminals is ongoing.
This case highlights the evolving and brazen tactics of cyber fraudsters who exploit fear and authority to devastating effect, even manipulating victims into approaching the very authorities meant to protect them.
