Cyber fraud in Mumbai: In keeping with particulars shared by the police, a girl employed in Andheri obtained a name from an unfamiliar quantity on July 19 at roughly 12:30 pm. The caller knowledgeable her that her Aadhaar card had allegedly been used to open a number of financial institution accounts.
In a surprising case of cyber fraud, a 20-year-old lady from Ghatkopar in Mumbai was defrauded of Rs 4 lakh by scammers who impersonated senior law enforcement officials. The fraudsters falsely claimed to be Delhi Police officers and used the names of well-known Mumbai Cops to lend credibility to their claims.
How the fraud unfolded?
In keeping with data offered by the police, the complainant, who works in Andheri, obtained a name from an unknown quantity on July 19 round 12:30 pm. The caller alleged that her Aadhaar card had been misused to open a number of financial institution accounts and that she was now underneath investigation for monetary crimes.
False claims and intimidation
To accentuate the deception, the fraudsters initiated a video name the place two males wearing police uniforms launched themselves as DCP Daya Naik and Pramod Verma of the Delhi Police Crime Department. They threatened the sufferer with extreme authorized penalties, together with arrest, a Supreme Courtroom discover, and a CBI investigation. The scammers falsely claimed that her paperwork had been linked to the continued case involving businessman Naresh Goyal.
Misuse of senior officers’ names
The impersonators went as far as to say that CBI officer Rashmi Shukla would conduct the additional investigation. They informed the lady to not method her native police station or financial institution, warning that native authorities might be complicit within the fraud.
Additional deception by way of video name
The subsequent day, the lady obtained one other name, throughout which a number of people wearing police uniforms appeared on video. This elaborate ruse was a part of a coordinated effort by the rip-off ring to take care of strain on the sufferer.
Financial loss and police motion
Beneath duress, the lady ended up transferring ₹4 lakh to the fraudsters. The accused additionally made a number of different false claims to control her. Mumbai Police have registered a case in opposition to 5 unidentified people in reference to the incident.
Background on misused identities
You will need to word that encounter specialist Daya Naik, whose identify was misused by the fraudsters, is a famend officer of the Mumbai Police. He was promoted to ACP rank and is scheduled to retire as we speak (July 31). Rashmi Shukla, one other identify related to the rip-off, at the moment serves because the Director Common of Police (DGP).
Police advisory
Mumbai Police are urging residents to be cautious of such scams, particularly these involving the impersonation of regulation enforcement officers. They’ve additionally harassed the significance of verifying such claims via official channels and refraining from transferring cash with out correct verification.