Mumbai: A retired civic official from Mumbai has fallen victim to an elaborate cyber fraud in which scammers impersonating national security personnel extorted Rs 16.5 lakh by falsely linking him to a major terror investigation.
According to police, the incident involved a former Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officer living in Andheri East, who approached the cyber police unit earlier this week after realising he had been deceived. The fraudsters allegedly posed as officers from elite security agencies, including the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), to intimidate the victim.
Investigators said the ordeal began on December 11, when the senior citizen received a call from unknown individuals claiming to be officials from Delhi’s anti-terror units. The callers allegedly warned him that his name had surfaced during investigations into a deadly blast that took place near the Red Fort in Delhi on November 10 last year, an incident that had claimed over a dozen lives.
To heighten the pressure, the scammers insisted that the inquiry had to be conducted in secrecy. They directed the victim to install the Signal messaging application and initiated a video call. During the call, one of the accused reportedly introduced himself as a senior NIA officer, further strengthening the illusion of authenticity.
Police said the victim was told that a bank account linked to his mobile number had allegedly received Rs 7 crore through illegal transactions. The caller warned that immediate arrest could follow unless the source of the victim’s finances was “verified” as part of a national security probe. He was also instructed not to share the matter with family members or friends.
Believing the claims and fearing legal action, the retired official transferred Rs 16.5 lakh to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. Soon after the money was sent, all communication was cut off and the victim’s number was blocked.
Realising he had been duped, the victim later approached the cyber police station, prompting authorities to register a case against unidentified persons. Police have launched an investigation and are tracing the accounts used in the scam.
Officials have once again urged citizens, especially senior citizens, to remain cautious of calls invoking law enforcement or national security and to verify any such claims through official channels before taking action.
