Pune: A senior woman doctor from Pune’s Sassoon Hospital has fallen victim to an elaborate online scam, losing Rs 25 lakh to fraudsters who posed as high-ranking officials from the Mumbai police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The 62-year-old doctor, a resident near Sadhu Vaswani Chowk in Pune, was targeted by cybercriminals who claimed she was under investigation for alleged involvement in a human trafficking and money laundering case, reports The Indian Express.
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According to a complaint lodged at Pune City’s Cyber police station, the incident began on September 16, 2024, when the victim received a WhatsApp call from an individual posing as a representative of a telecom company. The caller informed her that her phone number would be deactivated within two hours. Concerned, the doctor inquired further and was soon connected to another person claiming to be Pradip Sawant, a police officer from Mumbai.
The fraudster sent the doctor a document over WhatsApp, claiming it was an arrest warrant issued by a court in Andheri. He alleged that she was involved in a financial fraud case and that her case had been handed over to the CBI for further investigation. Despite the victim's denial of wrongdoing, the scam continued escalating.
The next day, she received another WhatsApp call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer. This individual requested details about her bank account balances under the pretence of conducting an investigation. Later, the fraudster demanded that she transfer Rs 25 lakh to a specified bank account to "assist in the investigation," assuring her that the money would be returned once the inquiry was completed.
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Trusting the fraudsters, the victim transferred the amount via RTGS. However, when the fake CBI officer demanded additional funds, the doctor grew suspicious and immediately filed a complaint at the Cyber police station.
Authorities have registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. They are investigating the identity of the fraudsters, including the holder of the bank account to which the funds were transferred.
The incident serves as a reminder of the rising threat of cyber fraud, and police are urging the public to remain cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or messages from individuals claiming to represent law enforcement agencies.