Mumbai: A shocking case of cyber fraud has come to light in Borivali, where a 68-year-old woman was cheated of ₹78.7 lakh by cybercriminals posing as officials from the judiciary and law enforcement. The North Regional Cyber Cell has registered a case against three individuals, including a woman, and initiated an investigation. Police have started tracing the bank accounts used in the fraud and launched a special operation to apprehend the culprits.
The victim, a resident of Gorai, Borivali, retired from HPCL in 2018 and receives a monthly pension. On October 9, she received a call from a man identifying himself as Ajaykumar, claiming to work with the notification department of the Mumbai High Court. He falsely informed her about an arrest warrant issued against her, alleging her involvement in a money laundering case filed by Bangalore Police.
The caller claimed that fraudulent transactions amounting to crores were conducted using her Aadhaar card and other documents. To add legitimacy, the call was transferred to another individual named Vinayakumar Choubey, who introduced himself as a Bangalore Police officer. Despite the woman denying any involvement, the caller coerced her into downloading the Skype app for further “investigation.”
During the interaction, the accused showed her a photo of a man allegedly arrested for money laundering, claiming he possessed a credit card under her name. The fraudsters further alleged that a bank account in her name had transactions worth ₹2 crore and insisted she travel to Bangalore for questioning.
Subsequently, another individual, Dipali Masilkar, posing as a female officer, contacted the victim and threatened legal action against her and her family. Fearing repercussions, the victim was manipulated into transferring ₹78.7 lakh to various bank accounts under the pretense of clearing her name. The fraudsters assured her the amount would be returned after the investigation.
Realizing the fraud after consulting her son, the victim lodged a complaint with the Cyber Cell. Based on her complaint, police have registered a case against the unknown cybercriminals and initiated a probe. Authorities are working to trace the transactions and apprehend the suspects. The police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify claims before sharing sensitive information or making financial transactions.
