A resident from the Surathkal police station limits has lost Rs 30 lakh to a cyber fraudster who posed as a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Crime Branch Anti-Corruption Cell, Mumbai.

How the Fraud Unfolded

The victim reported that he received a Skype call on September 2 from an individual claiming to be the DIG of the Anti-Corruption Cell. The fraudster, speaking in both Hindi and English, accused the victim of sending a parcel to Iran that contained drugs and other illegal items, allegedly seized by the Anti-Corruption Cell. The caller also falsely claimed that 24 fake bank accounts had been opened in the victim’s name, through which 24 million dollars were illegally transferred via hawala transactions.

To add pressure, the fraudster warned the victim that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would soon audit his bank transactions. He demanded that the victim transfer funds to a specific account before the so-called RBI investigation commenced.

Transfer of Funds

Initially sceptical, the victim requested assurance from the caller regarding the safety of the money. The fraudster convinced him that the money would be held in a secure department account. Believing the false claims, the victim transferred Rs 19 lakh via RTGS on September 2 and another Rs 11 lakh on September 3.

Realisation of the Scam

The fraudster continued pressuring the victim to transfer more funds. This led the victim to visit his bank, ICICI, at Marnamikatte to make another transaction. The bank manager, realising it was a scam, informed the victim of the fraudulent nature of the calls. Panicked, the victim contacted the fraudster demanding the return of his money. The fraudster reassured him, claiming that the money was safe and would be returned after RBI verification of his ICICI and HDFC bank accounts. Soon after, the fraudster’s phone was switched off.

Legal Action

A case has been registered, and the police are investigating the fraud. This incident highlights the importance of vigilance in the face of such sophisticated cyber fraud schemes.

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