Elderly warned of encounter, cheated of 35L | Mumbai News

Mumbai: In a new version of the ‘digital arrest’ scam, cyber fraudsters conned a 72-year-old woman, who lives alone, of Rs 35 lakh after accusing her of blackmailing 40 people and warning her that she would be “killed in an encounter”. The woman was told to “self-quarantine” and not reveal the goings-on to anyone as the scam unfolded over a month. The Cyber police registered an FIR recently.
On Sept 29, 2024, the woman who lives in the suburbs got a call from a man who identified himself as police inspector Ajay Patil. He said he had confidential information and she needed to self-quarantine, meaning no one else should be in the house. She was told that many people had complained about her and her phone number would be blocked in two hours.
On Sept 30, a “CBI crime branch officer Aakash” called her up to say that her phone number was used to blackmail 40 girls and there were harassment complaints against her. She was told that if she did not cooperate, she would be arrested or gunned down in an encounter. Aakash claimed that a bank account was opened in her name at King’s Circle and a 10% commission of Rs 60 lakh received in the account. He asked where she got this money from. The complainant said she had no clue, at which Aakash accused her of lying.
The woman said she had only one account at a bank in the suburbs. The fraudsters asked her to go to the branch and then told her to transfer Rs 10 lakh via RTGS for verification of the charges against her. She was assured a refund of the money if the inquiry found her to be innocent. The fraudsters sent her a fake order copy and instructed her to pay more money as required by Supreme Court. She paid a total of Rs 35.42 lakh.
A month later, she got a phone call from the fraudsters demanding money for legal expenses. The woman, who was at her brother’s house at the time, told them she was unwell. Her brother asked her why she appeared shaken, she told him about it all. He realised she was scammed. She then called up the cybercrime helpline 1930. After a preliminary probe, an FIR was registered on Jan 25.
Mumbai: In a new version of the ‘digital arrest’ scam, cyber fraudsters conned a 72-year-old woman, who lives alone, of Rs 35 lakh after accusing her of blackmailing 40 people and warning her that she would be “killed in an encounter”. The woman was told to “self-quarantine” and not reveal the goings-on to anyone as the scam unfolded over a month. The Cyber police registered an FIR recently.
On Sept 29, 2024, the woman who lives in the suburbs got a call from a man who identified himself as police inspector Ajay Patil. He said he had confidential information and she needed to self-quarantine, meaning no one else should be in the house. She was told that many people had complained about her and her phone number would be blocked in two hours.
On Sept 30, a “CBI crime branch officer Aakash” called her up to say that her phone number was used to blackmail 40 girls and there were harassment complaints against her. She was told that if she did not cooperate, she would be arrested or gunned down in an encounter. Aakash claimed that a bank account was opened in her name at King’s Circle and a 10% commission of Rs 60 lakh received in the account. He asked where she got this money from. The complainant said she had no clue, at which Aakash accused her of lying.
The woman said she had only one account at a bank in the suburbs. The fraudsters asked her to go to the branch and then told her to transfer Rs 10 lakh via RTGS for verification of the charges against her. She was assured a refund of the money if the inquiry found her to be innocent. The fraudsters sent her a fake order copy and instructed her to pay more money as required by Supreme Court. She paid a total of Rs 35.42 lakh.
A month later, she got a phone call from the fraudsters demanding money for legal expenses. The woman, who was at her brother’s house at the time, told them she was unwell. Her brother asked her why she appeared shaken, she told him about it all. He realised she was scammed. She then called up the cybercrime helpline 1930. After a preliminary probe, an FIR was registered on Jan 25.