In a chilling new scam, fraudsters impersonating Bengaluru‘s Wilson Garden police scammed an 83-year-old Defence Colony resident of ₹25 lakh. This marks a shift in cybercrime tactics, as scammers go hyperlocal, using the names of city police stations to gain credibility.

Incident Highlights:

  • The Setup:
    • The victim, Shankaran (name changed), received a call from someone posing as a TRAI officer, claiming a SIM card registered in his name was used for illegal activities.
    • A follow-up WhatsApp video call from a fake sub-inspector, “Shivaprasad” of Wilson Garden police, escalated the deception, alleging money laundering links.
  • The Scam:
    • Shankaran was coerced into a “virtual investigation” and isolated from his family under threats of arrest.
    • Another fraudster, posing as a CBI officer, instructed him to transfer funds to a fake trust account, promising a refund after “verification.”
  • Discovery:
    • After no refund by November 9, Shankaran informed his family, realizing the fraud. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Authorities Respond

A senior officer confirmed this as the first known case of fraudsters using a Bengaluru police station’s name. Investigations are ongoing, with warnings issued to the public to remain vigilant.

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