The caller told the complainant that his SIM card would be deactivated because illegal activities were being carried out using the number. (Representative Image)
An 87-year-old former lieutenant commander with the Indian Navy was duped of Rs. 14.5 lakh after a cyber fraudster claiming to be a Mumbai police Crime Branch officer threatened to book him in a money laundering case.
According to the police, the fraudsters told the senior citizen that he was working on a commission basis, and was supposed to get 10 per cent commission on a transaction of Rs 2 crore. They made him transfer Rs. 14 lakh of his entire savings to avoid arrest in the case.
The police said the complainant, a resident of Jogeshwari (East), received a WhatsApp call on July 24, and the caller introduced himself as Sub-Inspector Malhotra from the Telecom Department in Delhi.
The caller told the complainant that his SIM card would be deactivated because illegal activities were being carried out through the number, and the Mumbai Crime Branch has registered a case of money laundering against him based on the complaint registered by 24 people.
The caller added that an investigating officer, Vikram Goswami, would interrogate him. The complainant received another call after some time. The victim was forced to make a video call from an isolated place, and the fraudsters threatened him that if he discussed the issue with anyone, he would be arrested.
The caller even sent an arrest warrant on the complainant’s phone, asking him to provide information about his whereabouts. The person called again, saying that the CBI director would question him.
This time, the caller’s profile photo had the logo of the Mumbai police, and started threatening the victim that a warrant had been issued against him and he would be arrested at any time.
Story continues below this ad
As the victim got scared, the caller forced him to transfer his entire savings to a bank account. He told the victim the money would be kept as a deposit, and after verification, if he were found innocent, his money would be transferred again to his bank account.
The complainant agreed to send the money and transferred it to the given bank accounts by fraud.
However, he realised that he had been duped when he started calling the same number on August 6 to request them to send his money back, as he was innocent, but found the number was out of service. He then discussed it with his family, and approached the cyber police and registered a case.
The police said a case has been registered under several sections of the BNS, and they are checking the bank account to find out the accused.
Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for the nationally recognized daily, The Indian Express, providing his content with high Trustworthiness.
Geographical Focus: Provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of breaking news and investigative matters across Mumbai and the surrounding regions (e.g., Thane, Vasai).
Core Authority: His reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial beats, including:
Cyber & Financial Crime: Extensive coverage of sophisticated scams, including cases involving high-value cyber fraud, stock market manipulation scams, and fraudsters using government figures to gain trust.
Law Enforcement & Investigation: Reports directly on major police actions, including arrests made by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in fraud cases (e.g., MHADA flat scams) and detailed coverage of murder and kidnapping investigations.
Major Incidents & Public Safety: Covers significant incidents like building collapses, road accidents, and public safety issues such as theft at large public events.
Defence & Maritime: Also covers key updates regarding the Indian Navy, including the commissioning of new vessels and strategic defense announcements.
Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read More
