Chembur Resident Falls Prey to ₹12.80 Crore ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam
A chilling case of cyber fraud has come to light in Mumbai, where a 56-year-old resident of Chembur was duped out of ₹12.80 crore. The victim, targeted by scammers posing as Mumbai crime branch officers, was subjected to a meticulously orchestrated scam over four months, leaving him financially drained. The East Cyber police station has registered a First Information Report (FIR) and is working to trace the accounts where the stolen money was transferred.
A Call from ‘Law Enforcement’
The ordeal began on July 19 when the victim, who depends on rental income from properties purchased by his retired parents, received a WhatsApp call. The caller, identifying himself as Naga Chimti, alleged that the victim’s Aadhaar card and mobile number had been implicated in human trafficking and money laundering cases. The victim was told that an inspector named Vikram Singh from the Mumbai crime branch would contact him for further interrogation.
Soon after, a man appearing in police uniform contacted the victim via a WhatsApp video call, claiming to be Inspector Vikram Singh. During the hour-long interrogation, the fraudster accused the victim of having black money in his and his parents’ bank accounts. He was instructed to deposit all his savings into specific accounts, with the assurance that the funds would be returned after the “investigation.”
The Ordeal
Over the next four months, the victim received repeated calls from “Inspector Singh,” pressuring him to liquidate his and his parents’ financial assets. Following these directives, the victim foreclosed fixed deposits, withdrew funds, and sold shares belonging to his parents. Each time, the fraudster ensured compliance by conducting video calls while the victim was at the bank, maintaining a facade of official authority.
The scam culminated in the transfer of ₹12.80 crore to multiple accounts, leaving the victim in financial ruins. Inspector Rupesh Naik of the East Cyber police confirmed that the fraudsters manipulated the victim into believing their claims about black money and legal implications, exploiting his fears to extort the massive sum.
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