Bengaluru Man Duped of Over ₹14 Lakh in Telecom and CBI Impersonation Scam
In a shocking case of cybercrime, a 29-year-old businessman from western Bengaluru was defrauded of over ₹14 lakh by fraudsters impersonating telecom and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials. The incident, reported by the Deccan Herald, highlights the growing prevalence of such scams in the city.
The victim, identified as Atishay Pareek (name changed), received a call on September 25 from an individual claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller, who identified himself as Rajesh Mittal, accused Pareek of being involved in illegal activities, including money laundering, and stated that a complaint had been filed against him in Maharashtra.
Despite Pareek’s denial of any wrongdoing, the scam escalated when the caller transferred him to someone posing as a CBI officer. The fraudster created a sense of urgency, insisting that Pareek needed to attend an investigation immediately. When he expressed his inability to travel, the scammer suggested an online video interrogation.
To further convince Pareek, the impostor claimed that an HDFC bank account had been opened in his name, involved in a six-million-dollar transaction, and warned him he would be under constant surveillance. The fraudsters instructed Pareek to download the Signal messaging app for a video statement—a tactic often used in “digital arrest” scams. After recording the statement, they pressured him to transfer 80% of his bank balance to an ‘RBI account’ for verification.
Between September 25 and October 2, Pareek transferred a total of ₹14.57 lakh. The scam came to light only when he reported it on October 3, leading authorities to register a case and begin an investigation.
This incident underscores the rising threat of cybercrimes in Bengaluru, particularly those involving impersonation and fraudulent financial transactions.
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