Thane: A 64-year-old businessman from Naupada in Thane lost ₹1.25 crore after falling victim to an elaborate cyber fraud in which scammers posed as officials from the Data Protection Board of India and Nashik Police, authorities said on Saturday.
According to officers from the Naupada police station, the victim received a series of calls between November 11 and December 3. The first caller introduced himself as Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary, allegedly representing the Data Protection Board of India in Mumbai’s Khar area. He falsely claimed that a SIM card issued in the businessman’s name had been used for threatening people in Nashik, leading to a case being filed at the Panchavati police station.
The victim later received more calls from individuals pretending to be Nashik Police personnel. They told him that a bank account in Nashik had been opened using his Aadhaar details and was being used for money laundering and large illegal transactions. The callers warned him that he was now facing a case under the National Security Act.
Under intense pressure and threats, the businessman transferred a total of ₹1,25,50,280 to multiple accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Police said the elaborate deception exploited fear and used impersonation of government bodies to gain credibility.
Officials noted that the Data Protection Board of India, formed under the DPDP Act 2023, functions as a tribunal for privacy violations and data misuse complaints. It was formally established only in November this year.
A case has been registered under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. Police are tracking digital evidence, banking trails and call records to identify the accused.
