A 56-year-old man from Chembur lost Rs12.81 crore to cyber scammers who tricked him into believing he was under ‘digital arrest’ for alleged involvement in illegal activities. The fraud spanned over a month, with the scammers manipulating him into transferring the substantial amount.
According to the East Region Cyber Police, who registered the case on November 28, the fraud occurred between July 19 and August 12. An FIR has been registered against a fraudster named Naga Chimti, identified through a mobile number. Another scammer, Vikram Singh, posing as a police officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch, contacted the complainant via WhatsApp. Other scammers associated with different mobile numbers, unidentified bank account holders, and beneficiaries were also involved.
Police officials stated that the complainant was falsely informed by Chimti that his credentials were linked to human trafficking and money laundering activities. Subsequently, Vikram Singh contacted the complainant via a WhatsApp video call, claiming a criminal case had been registered against him.
The accused manipulated the complainant into transferring Rs12.81 crore to various bank accounts, falsely stating that his account contained ‘black money’ and that the transactions were necessary to resolve the issue. Once the funds were transferred, the money was not returned.
The complainant, who is unemployed and relies on his parents’ assets for his livelihood, reported the fraud to the police.
A case has been registered as an online financial fraud, with charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and breach of trust. Further investigations are underway to identify all beneficiaries and accomplices involved in the scam.
