It all began when the doctor received a WhatsApp call while examining patients.
The caller introduced himself as CBI officer Ravi Kumar and accused the doctor of being involved in a credit card fraud case.
The caller threatened the doctor that if he didn’t pay Rs 20 lakh, an arrest warrant would be issued against him.
Imagine receiving a WhatsApp call, and the caller claims you’re involved in a fraud case. Scary, right? This is exactly what happened to a 76-year-old doctor from Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune. The unfortunate incident cost him Rs 28 lakh. Keep reading to know how this scam unfolded and how you can protect yourself from such scams.
It all began when the doctor, who has been practising for over 40 years, received a WhatsApp call on November 28 while examining patients. The caller introduced himself as CBI officer Ravi Kumar and accused the doctor of being involved in a credit card fraud case. According to the caller, the doctor’s name appeared in a transaction worth Rs 1 crore, for which he allegedly received a Rs 20 lakh commission.
The caller threatened the doctor that if he didn’t pay Rs 20 lakh, an arrest warrant would be issued against him, reports Indian Express. When the doctor denied any involvement, the fraudster escalated the pressure, claiming that two notices—one from the Supreme Court and another from the ED—had been issued against him.
Also read: Kanpur man loses over Rs 7 lakh in online PAN card scam: How to avoid such scams
To make the scam believable, the fraudster added that, being a senior citizen and a doctor, he would be offered help from Supreme Court lawyers. The CBI officer then connected the call to another fraudster pretending to be a Supreme Court lawyer. This so-called lawyer asked for the doctor’s personal and financial information under the guise of verifying case details.
The victim was further intimidated by being placed under digital arrest. He was instructed not to speak about the case to anyone and to give updates every two hours.
Also read: Ahmedabad techie loses Rs 1 lakh after pressing ‘1’ on his phone: How the scam unfolded
The next day, the doctor was asked to transfer Rs 28 lakh into two separate accounts to clear his name. Following the instructions, he went to the bank and made the transfers.
Soon after, the doctor’s son learned about the incident and realised it was a cyber scam. The family approached the police, and an FIR was filed at Pimpri police station.
This incident is a stark reminder to stay vigilant against cyber fraud. Always verify the identity of callers claiming to be officials and never share personal or financial information over the phone. If in doubt, consult trusted family members or report the matter to the police immediately.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
