The former IAF officer was informed that the Supreme Court had issued an arrest warrant against him by the fraudsters, who also allegedly threatened to arrest him in cases involving human trafficking and money laundering.
Scammers taking on Mumbai police officers and executives of a phone company scammed a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer of Rs 45 lakh. The former IAF officer was informed that the Supreme Court had issued an arrest warrant against him by the fraudsters, who also allegedly threatened to arrest him in cases involving human trafficking and money laundering.
The complainant was directed to send a video call to an online address, where he was spoke with by a man acting as an officer of Mumbai’s Sahar police station and wearing a police uniform. The fraudster stated to the complainant that he was the target of a “Supreme Court arrest warrant” related to “a case of human trafficking and money laundering.”
After then, the complaint was instructed to get in touch with a “public prosecutor.” During the call, the fraud prosecutor informed the complainant that in order to obtain “a certificate of clearance” to prove his innocence, he would need to deposit Rs 45 lakh into “government accounts” for verification.
After the verification process, he will receive his money back, as promised. The complainant transferred because he thought the scam was real. He was even informed by the fraud prosecutor that the court hearing for the case had begun.
Following that, the fraudster continued to demand an additional Rs 17 lakh from the victim as the security amount required to obtain bail in the case. Upon speaking with a friend at this point, the complainant realized he had been fooled by cybercriminals. Following the complainant’s approach to the Cyber Crime police station, a FIR was filed at the Vimantal police station following a preliminary investigation.
An officer from the Vimantal police station stated, “We have launched an investigation into the phone numbers and bank accounts used by the cyber criminals.”
“Many complaints are being reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) regarding intimidation, blackmail, extortion, and “digital arrests” by cyber criminals posing as police authorities, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Narcotics Department, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Enforcement Directorate, and other law enforcement agencies,” the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a May advisory regarding such online blackmail cases.
These fraudsters usually give a potential victim a call and say that the victim has sent or is supposed to get a package that contains illegal items such as drugs, phony passports, illegal commodities, or any other kind of illicit goods. Sometimes, they also let the victims know if a loved one has been arrested for a crime or accident and is currently under their care. To undermine the “case,” money is demanded. Sometimes, unaware victims are forced to submit to “digital arrest” and make themselves visible to the scammers via phone calls, Skype chats, or other video conferencing services until their demands are satisfied. Fraudsters have a history of dressing up in uniforms and using studios created to look like government offices and police stations. Numerous victims have lost huge amounts of money to these thieves around the nation. It is known that cross-border criminal syndicates are behind this organized internet business crime.
Also read: Top 3 Workforce Management Companies in India You Should Know
Do Follow: CIO News LinkedIn Account | CIO News Facebook | CIO News Youtube | CIO News Twitter
About us:
CIO News is the premier platform dedicated to delivering the latest news, updates, and insights from the CIO industry. As a trusted source in the technology and IT sector, we provide a comprehensive resource for executives and professionals seeking to stay informed and ahead of the curve. With a focus on cutting-edge developments and trends, CIO News serves as your go-to destination for staying abreast of the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and IT. Founded in June 2020, CIO News has rapidly evolved with ambitious growth plans to expand globally, targeting markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, USA, and the UK.
CIO News is a proprietary of Mercadeo Multiventures Pvt Ltd.
