A 78-year-old woman from South Mumbai was scammed out of nearly $175,000 by fraudsters posing as Delhi Police officers. The incident began when she sent food to her daughter in the U.S. through a courier service. Shortly after, the woman received a call from someone pretending to be from the courier company, alleging that her package contained suspicious items, including her Aadhaar card, expired passports, illegal drugs, and cash. The caller accused her of being involved in criminal activities, which set the stage for the elaborate scam.
Over the next several days, the woman was contacted by individuals impersonating police officers and government officials. To further the deception, they conducted video calls while wearing police uniforms and presented fake documents, such as arrest warrants, to make their claims appear legitimate. These fraudulent individuals convinced the elderly woman that she needed to cooperate in the investigation and share her personal and bank details to assist with the case.
Believing she was being involved in a serious criminal matter, the woman followed the scammers’ instructions and transferred nearly $175,000 to accounts provided by them. The money was moved through several different accounts, making it harder to trace. The woman’s trust in the authorities and the urgency of the situation clouded her judgment, leading to the significant financial loss.
The scam was eventually uncovered when the woman discussed the situation with a family member, who advised her to report the incident to the Cybercrime Police Helpline. Upon doing so, the case was handed over to the Mumbai Police, who are now investigating the fraud. This incident serves as a reminder of the growing threat of cyber scams, especially targeting vulnerable individuals, and emphasizes the importance of verifying any unsolicited communication before sharing personal or financial information.
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