80-Year-Old Bandra Resident Scammed of ₹1.2 Crore in Fake Police Case
An 80-year-old resident of Bandra, Mumbai, has fallen victim to a cyber fraud that led to the loss of ₹1.2 crore. The elderly man was coerced into transferring his life savings after fraudsters, posing as police officers, threatened him with legal action over a fake money laundering scheme.
An 80-year-old resident of Bandra, Mumbai, has fallen victim to a cyber fraud that led to the loss of ₹1.2 crore. The elderly man was coerced into transferring his life savings after fraudsters, posing as police officers, threatened him with legal action over a fake money laundering scheme.
The incident began on September 30 when the victim, a Mount Mary resident, received a call from an individual who claimed to be a Bengaluru police officer. The caller accused him of being involved in a money laundering case and threatened severe legal consequences. To make the scam appear authentic, the fraudster even initiated a brief video call while wearing a police uniform before quickly disconnecting to avoid suspicion.
The fraudsters told the victim that he would face a “digital arrest” and ordered him to isolate himself in a room to avoid attracting attention. They convinced him to sign a note promising not to disclose the matter to anyone, suggesting that this would protect his reputation.
On October 3, the fraud intensified when the scammers sent fake documents, including a fabricated First Information Report (FIR), a forged Supreme Court notice, and even a letter from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), falsely implicating the elderly man. These documents warned him that his Aadhaar card and passport were under investigation and that he could face property seizure and further legal repercussions if he did not comply.
The victim was made to believe that the legal process would jeopardize his assets, leading him to transfer ₹1.2 crore to a so-called “secure” account. The fraudsters provided him with a fake receipt to further maintain the illusion of legitimacy.
It wasn’t until October 5, when a friend shared a video about similar cyber frauds, that the elderly man realized he had been scammed. He promptly contacted the Bandra police, who have since registered the case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The Bandra police have launched an investigation into the matter, and efforts are underway to trace the accused involved in this sophisticated cyber fraud operation. Authorities have urged the public to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or messages that ask for personal or financial information.
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