Retired Chemical engineer loses Rs 81 lakh to cyber fraudsters posing as ‘CBI chief’

The caller connected the complainant who identified himself as an inspector from Fort Police Station. The ‘officer’ told the complainant that charges of money laundering have been invoked against the complainant that he will have to speak to ‘Mumbai CBI Chief’ to find out about the case. The complainant was made to join a video call and was connected to a profile that had a police logo as a display picture.

The person posing as a CBI officer on the video call told the complainant that the Supreme Court had issued an order to freeze his assets and also arrest him over the illegal activities and money laundering linked to his account. The complainant denied any involvement in such activities. The ‘officer’ claimed that the complainant’s case can be taken for ‘priority investigation’ to clear his name. The ‘officer’ asked the complainant all his personal and financial details including bank balance and investments. The complainant was asked to make large transfers of Rs 60 lakh and Rs 21 lakh to ‘government accounts as security deposits.’ The complainant made the transfers hoping to clear his name.

When the conman posing as an officer further asked him to liquidate his investments, the complainant started having doubts and realised that he was a victim of cyber fraud. He subsequently approached the Pimpri Chinchwad police and an FIR was registered at Sangvi police station.

A police officer said that the modus operandi of the crime is the same as that of drugs in parcel scam but the pretexts used for threatening the victim are different. In a similar case registered at Wakad police station in Pimpri Chinchwad, a software engineer in his mid-40s was cheated for Rs 40 lakh after he was told that his number was being ‘used for a woman’s abuse’ and he threatened of action under ‘National Secret Rule.’

In the drugs in parcel scams, the victims are contacted by fake international courier service executives claiming drugs have been found in parcels addressed to them. They are told about police involvement and are told to communicate via Skype with fake profiles posing as law enforcement. Fraudsters impersonate IPS officers to further deceive victims. They coerce victims into transferring money for various reasons, including customs fees or legal charges, and by also claiming that their bank accounts are at risk from hackers. Callers often intimidate victims, claiming they’re under surveillance.

On May 14 earlier this year, the Department of Telecommunications issued an advisory to citizens to not to take and respond to fake calls wherein callers are threatening to disconnect their mobile numbers, or that their mobile numbers are being misused in illegal activities.