A 76-year-old doctor from Pimpri Chinchwad fell victim to a ₹28 lakh cyber fraud. Scammers posed as CBI officers and manipulated him into believing he was under “digital arrest” for alleged involvement in credit card fraud.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The doctor, who has over 40 years of medical practice, received a WhatsApp call on November 28 while attending to patients. The caller introduced himself as CBI Officer Ravi Kumar and accused the doctor of earning a ₹20 lakh commission in a fraudulent ₹1 crore transaction.
The caller threatened the doctor with an arrest warrant unless ₹20 lakh was paid immediately. Despite the doctor’s denial of involvement, the fraudster claimed there were notices from the Supreme Court and Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him.
The scam intensified when the fake CBI officer connected the doctor to another fraudster posing as a Supreme Court lawyer. This “lawyer” demanded the doctor’s personal and financial details under the pretext of helping him. He was also warned to maintain silence, claiming he was under constant surveillance and should report to them every two hours.
Loss of ₹28 Lakh
The next day, the doctor was coerced into transferring ₹28 lakh to two separate bank accounts, purportedly to clear his name. After completing the transaction, his son discovered the scam and informed him. They immediately approached the Pimpri police station to file a complaint.
Ministry Advisory on Cyber Blackmail
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued warnings about scams involving fake law enforcement agents, calling it a growing trend. These scams often include intimidation, blackmail, and digital arrests by criminals pretending to be from agencies like the CBI, ED, RBI, and others.
In May, the ministry highlighted these crimes on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed such scams in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program, urging people to stay vigilant.
How to Stay Safe
- Verify Caller Identity: Official agencies rarely communicate via WhatsApp or phone calls.
- Avoid Sharing Personal Details: Never disclose sensitive information over calls.
- Report Suspicious Activity: Use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal to report fraud.
- Consult Trusted Individuals: Always discuss unusual claims or threats with family or legal counsel.
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