Mumbai: A 49-year-old woman from Andheri fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud and lost Rs 33.5 lakh after being tricked by scammers posing as police and CBI officials. The fraudsters falsely accused her of involvement in a money laundering case and presented her with an unusual choice, spend three months in police custody or opt for ‘digital custody’ for seven days while the investigation was conducted.
To make the con seem legitimate, the scammers made her submit an online application requesting ‘digital custody,’ which was then ‘approved’ by the fake officers. Unaware of the deception, the woman complied with their instructions, eventually transferring her life savings into what she believed was a ‘Secret Supervision Account’ under CBI oversight.
According to a Times of India report, the scam, which took place between December 2 and December 31 last year, only came to light when she filed a complaint on February 25. Police believe this may be the first case in Mumbai where fraudsters introduced the concept of ‘digital custody’ to trap a victim.
How Did The Fraud Take Place?
The ordeal began when the woman received a call from an individual claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). She was falsely informed that her mobile number would be disconnected within two hours as it had been used to send fraudulent and threatening messages.
When she denied any wrongdoing, another person, identifying himself as Sunilkumar Gautam from the cyber-crime department in Delhi, told her that an FIR had been registered against her. He claimed her Aadhaar details were misused to open multiple bank accounts for illegal transactions.
Soon after, a third individual, posing as IPS officer Rajeshwar Pradhan, video-called her. Since he appeared in a police uniform, she believed he was genuine. Pradhan informed her that her account was linked to money laundering activities and that she faced arrest and a 90-day police custody. However, he offered an alternative, seven days of ‘digital custody’ instead.
Trusting him, she submitted an application for digital custody, which Pradhan immediately ‘approved.’ She was then instructed to check in via WhatsApp call every hour. To further convince her, the fraudsters sent fake documents bearing CBI and Delhi Police seals. Pradhan then directed her to transfer her funds to a ‘Secret Supervision Account,’ promising that the money would be returned after verification.
On December 31, when Pradhan stopped responding to her calls, she realised she had been duped. The police are now investigating the case. Further details on the investigation are awaited.
