Mumbai Cyber Crime: 75-Year-Old Woman Duped of Rs 18.98 Lakh in Old Coin Scam in Chunabhatti

A 75-year-old resident of Chunabhatti has reportedly been duped in a cyber fraud case where scammers impersonating representatives of an “old coin company” cheated her of Rs 18.98 lakh. The fraudsters lured the elderly woman by promising high returns on antique coins, exploiting her trust and interest in the collection. The incident highlights the growing trend of online scams targeting senior citizens through social media platforms and deceptive advertisements offering lucrative financial gains in exchange for seemingly valuable items.

As per the First Information Report (FIR), the complainant, Gauri Suhas Shambhu, lives in Chunabhatti along with her husband, Suhas Shambhu. The couple owned a collection of vintage Indian coins that originally belonged to Suhas’s mother, Nalini Shambhu, who had a keen interest in collecting rare currency. Following her demise in 2015, the coins were preserved by the family. They were aware that such antique collections could hold significant monetary value in the collectors’ market.

In May 2025, Gauri noticed an advertisement on Facebook claiming that a company was purchasing old coins at attractive prices. Believing the offer to be genuine, she contacted the phone number mentioned in the advertisement. The individual on the call introduced himself as Anil Kumar and claimed to be associated with an old coin company. He spoke convincingly and assured her that the firm specialized in evaluating and purchasing rare coins for substantial amounts.

After Gauri shared images of the coin collection through WhatsApp, the accused informed her that the coins could be worth between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 60 lakh. Gradually gaining her trust, he asked her to pay an initial registration fee of Rs 5,000. Subsequently, he demanded multiple payments under various pretexts, including valuation charges, processing fees, and taxes. Between May 2025 and January 2026, Gauri transferred a total of Rs 18.98 lakh to the fraudsters.

The scam escalated further in February and March 2026, when the accused allegedly began threatening Gauri through WhatsApp calls. They warned her that if she failed to make additional payments, officials from the Income Tax Department would visit her home and take legal action against her and her husband. The threats created panic and added pressure, making the situation more distressing for the elderly couple.

Eventually realizing that she had been deceived, Gauri approached the Chunabhatti police and lodged a formal complaint. She named unidentified individuals who had contacted her using three different mobile numbers, including those who introduced themselves as Anil Kumar and Sanjay Ji. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, and an investigation is currently in progress.