A 43-year-old software engineer residing in Navti Peth, Pune, fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing Rs 14 lakh to impostors who pretended to be Mumbai police officers. The fraudsters alleged that a case had been registered against her after criminals misused her Aadhaar details.
Incident Details
The woman had filed an online complaint following the fraud that occurred in June of the previous year. After preliminary investigations, a case was formally registered with the Vishrambaug police on Thursday.
According to an officer from the Vishrambaug police station, the cybercriminals initially contacted the woman in June last year, claiming to be from the Mumbai police. They informed her that some criminals had been booking rooms at various hotels using her Aadhaar details, and as a result, a complaint had been filed against her.
Video Call and Impersonation
Shortly after the initial contact, the victim received a video call from an individual who purported to be an officer from the Mumbai cybercrime office. The caller displayed an identity card to gain her trust. The bogus officer initially threatened to arrest her, but later offered assistance, assuring her he would help resolve the case. He instructed her to share her bank account details, claiming it was necessary for verification purposes.
Under the guise of verifying her bank account, the fraudster directed the woman to transfer money to specific bank accounts provided to her. The officer stated, “The woman transferred Rs 14 lakh to those bank accounts and lost it.”
Police Investigation
The Vishrambaug police have launched an investigation into the matter. They are working to trace the fraudulent accounts and identify the perpetrators. Authorities urge citizens to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be law enforcement and to verify such claims through official channels before sharing any personal or financial information.
