A 33-year-old resident of Chandivali, Powai, has been defrauded of Rs 26.33 lakh by cyber fraudsters who brought the full weight of the ‘law’ to bear upon her, pressuring her into parting with her savings and investments. They pulled off the ultimate deception – convincing her she was speaking with former Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, no less. They even sent her an ‘order’ placing her under ‘digital arrest’ for seven days, directing her to lock herself in a room and not speak about the investigation with anyone during that time.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
MUMBAI: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 33-year-old woman from Chandivali, Powai, was duped out of Rs 26.33 lakh by a group of fraudsters who used sophisticated tactics to exploit her trust and fear.
The scammers posed as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Cyber Crime Police, and even the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In a particularly audacious move, they convinced her she was interacting with none other than former Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud.
They even issued a fabricated ‘digital arrest‘ order, instructing her to isolate herself for seven days and not discuss the matter with anyone.
The Deceptive Beginning
According to the Cyber Police, the nightmare began on October 5 when the victim received a call from an individual claiming to be a TRAI official. The caller alleged that her phone number was being deactivated due to its alleged involvement in sending threatening messages.
Furthermore, the fraudsters claimed her bank accounts were linked to a money laundering case associated with Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
“A First Information Report (FIR) had been registered in the matter, and the Cyber Police were investigating the case,”
-a police officer stated.
Shortly after, she received another call, this time from someone identifying himself as Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Vijay Mehta from the Cyber Police. He confirmed the fabricated allegations, heightening her panic.
The ‘Digital Arrest’
The fraudsters manipulated the victim into agreeing to a ‘digital arrest’ to avoid 90 days of police custody and lengthy litigation. Under this fabricated directive, she was told to lock herself in a room and refrain from discussing the ‘investigation’ with anyone.
During this period, video calls were used to deepen the ruse. The scammers posed as police officers and introduced another fictitious character, ‘CBI officer Akash Kulhadi’, who demanded sensitive financial details.
“He instructed her to liquidate her investments and transfer the funds to a designated ‘Secret Supervision Account,’”
-the police explained.
The Financial Blow
Following the fraudsters’ instructions, the woman transferred Rs 23 lakh to the provided account under the belief that it was a temporary measure to secure her money during the investigation. The fraudsters assured her that the amount would be returned once she was proven innocent.
However, the deception didn’t stop there. The victim was later informed about a fabricated Supreme Court hearing linked to the Naresh Goyal case. A man posing as former Chief Justice of India, Dr. D Y Chandrachud, appeared during a video call staged to resemble a courtroom.
The fake CJI played an audio recording purportedly of a conversation between the victim and Naresh Goyal, claiming it would undergo forensic analysis. This elaborate setup pushed the victim further into the scam.
The Second Demand and Discovery of Fraud
Under this pretext, the fraudsters demanded an additional Rs 23 lakh. The victim attempted to comply but managed to transfer only Rs 3.33 lakh before realizing something was amiss. She was later provided with a “clarification letter” and reassured that her money would be returned within seven days as no wrongdoing had been found.
On October 15, when the victim contacted one of the fraudsters’ numbers to inquire about her money, she discovered the truth. The realization prompted her to file an online complaint with the Bandra Kurla Complex Cyber Police Station on Wednesday.
A case of cheating and impersonation was registered against the unknown fraudsters.
A Stark Warning Against Cyber Frauds
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals who exploit fear and manipulate victims into compliance.
The Mumbai Cyber Police have reiterated the importance of verifying the identity of callers and avoiding sharing personal or financial information without due diligence.
As cybercrimes grow more elaborate, individuals are urged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities immediately.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Fake CJI
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
