Thane: A 64-year-old retired Indian Railways officer from Badlapur in Maharashtra’s Thane district was allegedly duped of ₹1.56 crore by cyber fraudsters who placed him under a so-called “digital arrest,” police said.
According to police, the scam began on February 12 when the victim received a call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be a telecom department official and accused him of sending obscene messages and videos to more than 40 women. The fraudster also alleged that the victim’s Aadhaar and bank accounts were linked to hawala transactions and a money laundering probe involving a prominent individual.
Soon after, other individuals posing as police officials contacted the victim and claimed he was under investigation. To instil fear, the fraudsters kept him under continuous audio and video surveillance and instructed him to download the Signal messaging app on his wife’s phone to remain in contact.
Police said the accused sent forged documents to convince the victim that the case against him was genuine. These included fake Mumbai Police FIRs, bogus bank letters, ATM card images in his name and counterfeit Interpol Red Corner notices.
Fearing arrest and public humiliation, the victim arranged money as directed by the fraudsters. Between February 12 and March 7, he transferred a total of ₹1,56,45,000 through multiple RTGS transactions after breaking fixed deposits, withdrawing savings and selling some gold jewellery.
The fraudsters later demanded an additional ₹25 lakh. The victim was reportedly on his way to sell his remaining jewellery when a friend intervened and advised him to approach the police.
Following the complaint, Badlapur East police registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including cheating, extortion and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. Police are now tracing the bank accounts involved to identify the accused.
