Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar
P
osing as telecom officials and Mumbai crime branch officials,cyber fraudsters intimidated a 77-year-old woman for almost 20 days before swindling a total of Rs.1.2 Crore .
The victim,Lakshmi Shivakumar,resident of RT Nagar filed a complaint with the north division cyber crime police on Friday based on which the police have taken up a case against the accused identified themselves as Sandeep Rao and Akash Kulhari charging them under various section of IT Act and also under cheating under BNS Act.
In her complaint,Ms.Lakshmi said that the incident occurred on June 26 and the caller said he was from telecom department .
The caller told her that a SIM has been purchased in her identity from a shop in Andhari west in Mumbai which has been used for illegal activities.
The caller also informed her that as part of the protocol, the department has filed a complaint with the Mumbai crime branch for further investigation.
Few hours later the trauma began when two men identified as Sandeep Rao and Akash Kulhari claiming to be from Mumbai crime branch called her to inform that she has been accused as illegal activities anf money laundering worth Rs.60 crore .
The duo subsequently demanded her bank account details and investment proof for verification failing which they threatened to arrest her for not cooperating with the investigation.
The duo even showed the fake FIR copy and arrest warrant copy issued by Supreme Court to make their claim genuine .
Scared of this Lakshmi cooperated and shared her bank account details and investment following which the accused transferred Rs.1,28,70,000 from her account citing that they would transfer back the funds after completion of investigation.
After waiting for the completion of investigation as promised,Lakshmi tried to contact them but the accused were not reachable.
Worried Lakshmi discussed her problem with the family and friends who told her that she has been scammed and suggested her to approach the police .
This is the most common form of online fraud,a senior police officer, said advising people not to entertain any unknown person and share personal details even if they claim to be government officers.
Concerned over the growing online cheating cases, the police are creating awareness programs among the IT professionals,resident welfare associations and college students about the Dos and Donts and about the golden hour .
