In Faridabad, a 68-year-old retiree was recently duped of Rs 81 lakh after cybercriminals posing as CBI and ED officers convinced him he was under investigation for money laundering and human trafficking. The scammers kept him on continuous video calls for five days, using intimidation, fake case files, and official jargon to manipulate him into transferring money as part of a supposed “verification” and “bail” process. The victim, identified as Vishnupad Chatterjee, filed a complaint on October 19, and local cyber authorities have now begun an investigation.
The ordeal began on October 14, when Chatterjee received a call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer. Moments later, he was allegedly informed that his bank account was linked to illegal activities. The scammers swiftly transitioned from phone calls to WhatsApp video calls, keeping him visually “under observation” to simulate a digital arrest.
Over the next five days, the fraudsters issued instructions for money transfers, first demanding Rs 51 lakh on October 16, followed by another Rs 30 lakh through RTGS on October 17.
A formal FIR has been registered at Ballabgarh Police Station, and the cybercrime unit is now tracking the digital footprint of the fraudsters. Investigators suspect the use of spoofed caller IDs and international VoIP services, which are common tools in such frauds.
Authorities have also warned that senior citizens remain a high-risk group, with several similar cases surfacing nationwide, including one where an 81-year-old from Surat lost Rs 16.65 lakh under the same pretext.
Also read: Zoho set to enter UPI race with Zoho Pay, its new app to take on Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm