New Delhi — Indian activist and social media influencer Vijay Patel took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal an elaborate scam targeting him, which could be affecting innocent citizens across the country. Patel shared a detailed thread, narrating how con artists impersonating law enforcement officials attempted to extract his personal and financial information in a sophisticated money laundering ruse.

Patel’s harrowing experience began with a phone call from individuals posing as police officers, accusing him of involvement in a money laundering case connected to political figure Nawab Malik. The scammers’ strategy was to create a sense of urgency and fear, making Patel believe that he was under investigation for serious financial crimes.

Extracting Financial Information

According to Patel, the scammers initially pressured him to disclose how many bank accounts he held and the amounts of money in them. They cunningly disguised this inquiry as part of the supposed investigation, attempting to gather enough information to access his funds.

“They found my connection with Nawab Malik in a money laundering case!” Patel wrote sarcastically in his tweet, explaining that the fraudsters’ true motive was to steal his money. “This is a trick to know how many bank accounts you have and how much money you have in them so they can clean it!”

The con artists continued their charade by inquiring whether Patel used UPI (Unified Payments Interface) apps or net banking services, likely intending to transfer money from his accounts if they gained access.

Demand for Money Transfer

In a further escalation, Patel revealed that the scammers demanded he transfer all his money to an account they controlled. They assured him that his money would be returned if he was found “innocent,” and even promised to provide him with a “certificate” proving his innocence.

“In the end, the scammer police officer gave this case to a so-called DCP,” Patel tweeted. “He informed me that I needed to transfer all the money I had in my bank accounts, which would be returned if I was found innocent, and they would give me a certificate!”

Inappropriate Turn of Events

Patel also hinted that the scammers’ behavior took an inappropriate turn toward the end of their conversation, but he chose not to reveal those details due to the adult nature of the content. He did, however, post a “trailer” of the conversation to further illustrate the depth of the manipulation involved.

A Call to Spread Awareness

Patel concluded his thread with a plea for people to share his experience widely to prevent others from falling victim to similar scams. “Every day, innocent people are being targeted and losing their life savings in a single day,” he wrote. “Only awareness can help to stop this.”

This latest incident highlights the growing sophistication of financial scams in India, where con artists leverage fear, intimidation, and official-sounding accusations to steal money from unsuspecting individuals. Patel’s decision to share his story online has already drawn significant attention, with thousands engaging in the conversation.

Authorities are yet to respond to Patel’s revelations, but experts advise the public to remain vigilant, avoid sharing personal financial information over the phone, and verify any claims made by alleged officials through proper channels.