Cyber Scam
In yet another case of online scams, a 70-year-old lawyer from Pimpri, Pune, is duped of a staggering Rs 1.8 crore after fraudsters impersonated as officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The incident took place earlier this month, between September 4 and 19. According to the Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police, the fraudsters called the lawyer and told him that his Aadhaar card was found linked to money laundering. They warned him that he and his family could be arrested if he didn’t cooperate.
The callers then told the lawyer not to speak to anyone about the case, isolating him and keeping him in fear. They then asked for his bank details, claiming it was part of a “verification process.” To make the claims sound authentic, they even sent him a fake PDF bond, assuring him that his money would be returned once the verification was done.
Over the next few days, the lawyer transferred his entire savings. He even borrowed from friends—before handing over a total of Rs 1.8 crore to the frauds. When the calls suddenly stopped, he realised he had been conned.
The police have since managed to freeze around Rs 12 lakh of the stolen amount. A case has been registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to extortion, cheating, personation, and forgery, along with provisions of the IT Act.
Police officials warn that this type of fraud doesn’t rely on hacking but on psychology, but the scammers use panic and urgency to manipulate people.
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Authorities have urged citizens to stay alert. Do note that government agencies never demand money transfers or personal details over the phone. If you receive such a call, the safest step is to hang up and directly contact the official helpline or visit the nearest police station.