Ex-Coal Firm Executive Duped in Cyber Fraud, Loses Rs 2.27 Crore
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Synopsis
A retired coal company officer from Ranchi lost Rs 2.27 crore in a cyber scam, manipulated by fraudsters posing as officials. The scam lasted for 11 days, forcing him to transfer his savings to multiple accounts.
Key Takeaways
- Victim lost Rs 2.27 crore in cyber scam.
- Criminals posed as officials to manipulate him.
- Fraud lasted for 11 days.
- Victim reported to CID Cyber Police.
- Investigation linked fraud to Maharashtra syndicate.
Ranchi, Jan 14 (NationPress) A retired coal company executive from Ranchi, Jharkhand, has been ensnared in a sophisticated cyber scam, resulting in a loss of Rs 2.27 crore over a distressing span of 11 days. The perpetrators, masquerading as officials, digitally compelled him to transfer his life savings into eight distinct bank accounts.
An FIR has been lodged at the CID Cyber Police Station in Ranchi, alongside a complaint made to the cybercrime helpline number 1930.
Initial inquiries by CID indicate that the fraud was executed by a syndicate operating out of Maharashtra, with all involved bank accounts traced back to that state.
The victim, a retired Coal India official living in Bariatu, Ranchi, reported that the nightmare began on December 10, 2024. He received a call from someone claiming to be Abhiraj Shukla, allegedly an officer of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The caller accused him of disseminating false advertisements and messages via his mobile number. Despite the victim's protests, he was threatened that his personal documents might have been exploited to acquire a SIM card, which allowed cybercriminals to commit fraud in his name.
The caller further claimed that this fraud constituted a money laundering offence and threatened immediate arrest. However, he reassured the victim that the Delhi Cyber Branch could intervene to avert action if he was innocent.
Shortly after, the victim received another call from a woman identifying herself as Poonam Gupta, purportedly an officer with the Delhi Cybercrime branch. She directed him to use his mobile camera for identification and to follow additional instructions.
For the next 11 days, the victim was manipulated into remaining on video calls and engaging with various individuals, including one who pretended to be a senior IPS officer. He was consistently intimidated and made to believe that his compliance was crucial for vindicating his name.
To demonstrate his innocence, the victim was coerced into transferring funds to several bank accounts. Trusting their claims, he transferred Rs 2.27 crore from both his and his wife's accounts, which constituted their entire life savings.
After the funds were sent, the fraudsters severed communication and blocked their phone numbers. Upon realizing the scam, the distraught victim approached the authorities and filed a complaint with the CID cyber police.
Preliminary investigations have indicated that the fraudulent bank accounts belong to individuals located in Maharashtra. The CID is actively working to track down the gang and recover the stolen funds.
