Elderly Woman Loses Rs 3.80 Crore in Digital Arrest Fraud Scheme in Mumbai

A 77-year-old woman from Mumbai fell victim to cyber fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials. They convinced her to transfer Rs 3.8 crore by claiming her Aadhaar card was involved in a money laundering case. The ordeal began when she received a WhatsApp call from an unknown man alleging a parcel sent by her to Taiwan contained illegal items.

The caller claimed the parcel included MDMA drugs, five passports, a bank card, and clothes. When the woman denied sending any parcel, the caller insisted her Aadhaar details were used in the crime. He then connected her to someone posing as a Mumbai Police officer, who reiterated the Aadhaar card's involvement in a money laundering investigation.

Fraudulent Scheme Unfolds

The woman was instructed to download Skype for further communication with supposed police officers. She was told not to disconnect or disclose the call. A man identifying himself as an IPS officer requested her bank account details. Another impersonator, claiming to be from the finance department, asked her to transfer funds to specific accounts.

They assured her that if no wrongdoing was found, the money would be returned. To gain her trust, they refunded Rs 15 lakh initially transferred by her. Subsequently, they persuaded her to send all funds from joint accounts with her husband, resulting in Rs 3.8 crore being transferred across six accounts.

Realisation and Action

The woman grew suspicious when she didn't receive her money back and was asked for more funds under the guise of taxes. She contacted her daughter abroad, who realised it was a scam and advised her mother to report it to the police. Following this advice, she called the cyber helpline number 1930.

Upon contacting authorities, investigators managed to freeze the six bank accounts where the money had been transferred. The crime branch is now investigating the case further to identify and apprehend those responsible for this elaborate fraud.

This incident highlights the need for increased awareness about cyber frauds targeting vulnerable individuals. It serves as a reminder for people to verify any suspicious communications and consult with trusted family members or authorities before taking any financial actions based on such calls.