Mumbai: Retired MNC Director Loses Rs 25 Crore to Cyber Fraudsters Impersonating Police, CBI Officers
A retired director of a multinational corporation (MNC) in Mumbai has lost a staggering Rs 25 crore to cyber fraudsters who deceitfully posed as police and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers. The victimized senior citizen fell prey to their intimidation tactics, believing she was being investigated in a money laundering case.
The ordeal unfolded over a two-month period beginning February 6th this year. The fraudsters initiated contact through a WhatsApp call, impersonating an official from the telecom department. They informed the victim that her three mobile numbers would be deactivated. When she inquired about the reason, the fraudster claimed to be transferring her call to a police officer.
Subsequently, a caller posing as a police officer alleged that a complaint had been filed against her and that her mobile numbers and Aadhaar card were linked to the case. The caller then connected the victim to a third person, who impersonated a CBI officer and threatened her with a money laundering investigation. The fraudster instructed her to deposit funds into specified bank accounts to avoid charges, promising that she would receive her money back.
The fraudsters further manipulated the victim into opening a current account in her name and coerced her into depositing money there, claiming it would be transferred to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They also directed her to collect a payment receipt from the local police station.
The unsuspecting victim transferred approximately Rs 25 crore into the provided accounts, but her attempts to retrieve the funds proved futile. She subsequently approached the Mumbai police and lodged a complaint against unidentified fraudsters.
The cyber police station of the Mumbai crime branch has initiated an investigation into the case and has frozen 31 bank accounts associated with the fraud.
