Nagpur: A cyber fraud incident has came to light were a 77-year-old man fell prey to scammers in a digital arrest fraud and lost Rs 45 lakh. Scammer posed as an IPS officer posted in Mumbai to dupe the victim. According to reports, on November 3, the complainant received a phone call from a person claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Caller allegedly told complainant that a mobile number had been issued in his name was used for criminal activities.
Next day, victim received another phone call, during which the caller informed him that a bank account had been opened in his name and had been used in a money laundering case. Scammer sent the victim fabricated documents related to the purported money laundering case. One of the scammers impersonated IPS officer Vishwas Nangre-Patil, while others posed as officers from the Enforcement Directorate and Mumbai Police. These fraudsters threatened the victim with arrest and coerced him into revealing details about his properties and investments.
Scammers convinced the complainant to transfer ₹45 lakh to various bank accounts between November 3 and December 23, claiming the money was for a government-verified process and would be returned. After the transfers, the complainant lost contact with the scammers. Upon visiting Mumbai and meeting Nangre-Patil, the complainant realized he had been defrauded and filed a police report.
A case has been registered under Sections 204, 318, 319, 336, 338, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act.