A shocking case of cyber fraud has surfaced in Mumbai's Dadar East, where scammers tricked a 73-year-old citizen and former Managing Director (MD) of the Aditya Birla Group into believing he was linked to Pahalgam terrorist attack. The fraudsters extorted Rs 70 lakh from him.
The Call That Started It All
According to RAK Marg police, the incident began on September 25, around 3:57 pm, when the victim received a call from a woman introducing herself as Vineeta Sharma, an officer from the ATS Control Room in New Delhi. She claimed that the victim's Aadhaar and mobile number were connected to suspicious activities linked to the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
IPS Officer on Video Call
Soon after, the victim received a video call from a man dressed in an IPS uniform, identifying himself as IG Premkumar Gautam. He threatened the senior citizen with immediate arrest, seizure of his bank accounts, and cancellation of his passport.
The scammers pressured him for personal and financial details, including his income, bank accounts, fixed deposits, shareholdings, and even his wife's information.
Fake RBI Procedure
The fraudsters convinced the victim that his funds first needed to be "certified as white money" under RBI regulations. Out of fear, the victim transferred a total of 70 lakh into three bank accounts provided by them. They even sent him a fake RBI acknowledgement on WhatsApp to appear credible.
During this time, the victim was refrained from using his or his wife's phones, and their home computer, claiming everything was under surveillance. The victim was also instructed not to speak to anyone.
The Suspicion and Police Complaint
In September 28, when the fraudsters demanded that he liquidate a Rs 1 crore fixed deposit, the victim grew suspicious and immediately reported the matter to RAK Marg police.
Police Investigation Underway
Mumbai Cyber Crime officials have launched a high-priority probe. Investigators have collected WhatsApp chats, audio recordings, and bank details linked to the fraudsters. Efforts are underway to trace the culprits through cyber trails and financial transactions.
