Bengaluru: A 46-year-old warehouse in-charge employed with a private company in Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of ₹3.2 lakh by cyber fraudsters who impersonated officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and threatened him with arrest using a fake warrant.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.
Fraudsters posed as NIA officials
According to the complaint, the victim received multiple WhatsApp video calls on August 1 from individuals claiming to be NIA officials.
The callers allegedly accused him of being linked to a criminal investigation and intimidated him by displaying what appeared to be an official arrest warrant during the video calls.
Fearing legal action, the victim reportedly believed the claims made by the fraudsters.
Victim loses ₹3.2 lakh
The accused allegedly coerced the warehouse manager into transferring ₹3.2 lakh under the pretext of verifying his financial records and resolving the purported case against him.
After the money was transferred, the fraudsters reportedly became unreachable, prompting the victim to realise he had been duped and approach the police.
A case has been registered, and investigators are working to trace the individuals involved in the fraud.
Police urge public to stay vigilant
Police have advised citizens not to panic if they receive calls from individuals claiming to represent investigative agencies such as the NIA, CBI or Enforcement Directorate.
Officials stressed that genuine law enforcement agencies do not demand money or conduct investigations through WhatsApp video calls. Members of the public have been urged to verify such claims through official channels and immediately report suspicious calls to the cybercrime helpline or the nearest police station.
Authorities continue to warn that impersonation scams involving fake officials are on the rise, with fraudsters increasingly targeting unsuspecting victims through video calls and forged documents.