Woman loses Rs 12 lakh in cyber fraud; four booked by Navi Mumbai Police

A Navi Mumbai woman from CBD Belapur in Maharashtra was allegedly cheated of Rs 12 lakh by cyber fraudsters a police official said on Tuesday adding that the police have booked four people in the matter reported the PTIThe incident occurred between October 23 and 25 he saidThe accused contacted the 33yearold victim multiple times falsely claiming to be representatives of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India TRAI They said she faces several charges like money laundering human trafficking illegal advertisements and public harassment the official said as per the PTIThey also told her that if she wants her hassles to end she will have to pay a total of Rs 1235 lakh She followed their instructions and transferred the amount However after doing so she failed to establish contact with them She realised that she had been duped he saidBased on her complaint the police registered a case on October 27 under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 204 personating a public servant 3184 cheating 3192 cheating by personation 35 common intention he said the news agency reportedMumbai Senior citizen placed under digital arrest by online fraudsters forced to pay Rs 14 lakhMeanwhile in an another incident a 67yearold Mumbaibased woman was placed under digital arrest by online fraudsters who forced her to pay Rs 14 lakh in exchange of clearing her name in a nonexistent money laundering case police have said reported the PTISpeaking about the case involving the elderly woman a police official on Monday said The accused posed as Delhi Telecom Department and Cyber Crime branch personnel They placed her under digital arrest after accusing her of being involved in a highprofile money laundering case The crime took place between September 1 and 5 The victim stays in Mumbais Kandivali West with her sisterinlaw according to the PTIA case was registered on Saturday on her complaint at North Region Cyber police station As per the complaint the woman received a call on September 1 from a person who identified himself as an official of Delhi Telecom Department She was told that a case was registered against her at Delhi Cyber crime branch The accused told the woman that her Aadhaar card was used in the crime he said the news agency reported on TuesdayAs per the advisory of cybersecurity agency CERTIn a digital arrest is the one in which victims receive a phone call an email or a message claiming they are under investigation for illegal activities such as identity theft or money launderingThe scammer threatens the victim with arrest or legal consequences unless he takes immediate action They often create a sense of panic to prevent rational thinking Under the guise of clearing their name assisting with the investigation or refundable security depositescrow account individuals are coerced into transferring large sums of money to specified bank accounts or UPI IDs the advisory saidwith PTI inputs