77-year-old Bengaluru woman held in ‘digital arrest’, loses Rs 1.2 crore in cyber fraud
The fraudsters posed as telecom officials and Mumbai crime branch personnel, and told her that a SIM card purchased in her name was being used for illegal activities.
3 min read
The CBI raided the office of Innocent Technology (OPC) Pvt Ltd operating from DLF Cyber City, Gurugram. (File Photo)A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru has lost Rs 1.2 crore to cyber criminals who allegedly posed as telecom officials and Mumbai crime branch personnel and held her in ‘digital arrest’, said the police.
The cyber fraud came to light when the resident of R T Nagar approached North Division CEN police on Friday to file a complaint. According to the victim, the incident of money siphoning took place between June 26 and July 18. In her complaint, she mentioned that she received a call on June 26 from a person claiming to be an official of the telecom department. The caller informed her that a SIM card had been purchased in her name from a shop in Andheri West of Mumbai and was being used for illegal activities.
The caller also informed her that it was part of the protocol, and the department had filed a complaint with the Mumbai crime branch. A few hours later, two men claiming to be Sandeep Rao and Akash Kulhari from the Mumbai crime branch called her to inform her that she had been accused of illegal activities and money laundering worth Rs 60 crore.
She was taken aback and shared all the details they asked for. They requested her bank account information and investment proof for verification while threatening to arrest her for not cooperating with the investigation. To further persuade her, they showed her a copy of an FIR and an arrest warrant, making it appear that the orders were from the Supreme Court.
In multiple transactions, she transferred Rs 1,28,70,000 from her account after being told it was part of an investigation. The accused promised to return the money after the investigation was complete. However, when she attempted to contact them later, she discovered she had been deceived. After discussing it with her family members, she filed a police complaint.
The police registered a case under sections 66(c) (Identity theft) and 66(d) (cheating by personation by using computer resource) of the Information Technology Act and section (318)(4) (cheating) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
You May Like
