78-year-old Mumbai woman loses Rs 1.5 crore in cyber scam
A 78-year-old woman from South Mumbai became a victim of a sophisticated cyber scam, losing Rs 1.5 crore after being tricked by fraudsters posing as the Special Investigation Team of the Delhi Police. The elderly homemaker, connected to a prominent builder in the area, was misled into believing she was under investigation for money laundering and drug-related offenses.
The scam began when the woman arranged for a courier to send food to her daughter in the US. The following day, she received a call from someone claiming to be from the courier company. The caller alleged that her package contained illegal items such as her Aadhaar card, expired passports, credit cards, illegal substances, and USD 2,000 in cash. The fraudsters accused her of being part of a conspiracy with two other individuals.
In the subsequent days, the woman was contacted by multiple people posing as officials from various government departments, including the Cyber Crime Branch and the Finance Department. These scammers even conducted video calls, appeared in police uniforms, and showed fake documents, such as arrest warrants, to further deceive her.
Under immense pressure, the woman shared her banking details, believing she was safeguarding her assets during the “investigation.” She transferred Rs 1.51 crore to the fraudsters’ accounts. It was only when she discussed the matter with a family member that she realized she had been scammed.
The case was reported to the Cybercrime Police Helpline and has been handed over to the South Cyber Cell of Mumbai Police. Experts have warned the public, especially the elderly, to be vigilant against such scams and to verify the authenticity of unsolicited calls before sharing personal information.
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