Fraudsters Attempt to Frame Kodagu Native in Money Laundering Case
In yet another case of digital fraud, scammers tried to link a Kodagu resident, SM Chengappa, to the Naresh Goyal money laundering case in a bid to deceive him. Chengappa, a resident of Kiranganduru in Somwarpet, received a disturbing phone call from fraudsters, claiming that a fraudulent bank transaction had been reported from his account. They warned him that his account would be frozen within two hours if action was not taken immediately.
Scam Details
The caller, using an AI voice, instructed Chengappa to press “9” for further information. This connected him to an individual posing as a police officer, who informed Chengappa that a CBI inquiry would be launched due to the fraudulent transaction.
The fraudsters escalated the scam by transferring the call to another person, who identified himself as a Mumbai Police Officer. He claimed that during a raid at Naresh Goyal’s house, 487 bank cards were found, and one of them belonged to Chengappa. The caller told Chengappa that he was accuse number 191 in a money laundering case linked to Naresh Goyal, the former Jet Airways founder.
Threats and Intimidation
The scammers further intimidated Chengappa by stating that Naresh Goyal had connections with the drug mafia and had allegedly threatened several women and children. They even warned Chengappa that his family could be in danger. The fraudsters used a video call to make the conversation seem more authentic, adding to Chengappa’s confusion and fear.
Immediate Action and Investigation
Realizing it was a scam, Chengappa filed a complaint with the District Cyber Crime Cell and promptly went to his local bank to temporarily close his accounts. He has since appealed to the public to be cautious and vigilant against such fraudulent schemes. The police are investigating the incident.
This case serves as a reminder to remain cautious of such sophisticated scams, where fraudsters often impersonate officials and use psychological tactics to manipulate victims.
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