The West Region of the Mumbai Cyber Cell has arrested two accused from Chandigarh, including a woman, for allegedly duping a Mumbai doctor of R15 lakh. The accused impersonated telecom department officials and told the doctor that she was involved in money laundering and that her mobile services would be suspended. The accused arrested from Chandigarh are identified as Kiran Sitaram, 36, and Vishal Montu, 25. “The arrested accused are suspected to be part of a syndicate involved in various methods of cyber fraud and extorting money under the guise of agency threats,” said Datta Nalawade, DCP (detection).

According to the Cyber Cell, the complainant, a 51-year-old doctor, received a call from someone posing as a Telecom Department official. The caller told the doctor that she had been involved in money laundering and that her mobile phone service would be disconnected. Subsequently, another person posing as a police officer called her and informed her that an FIR was being registered against her and a non-bailable warrant was being issued in her name.