Pune techie loses Rs 23 lakh to scammers posing as crime branch officials: How to avoid such scams

In today’s digital world, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeting unsuspecting individuals. One such case has come to light in Pune, where a 28-year-old techie from Pune was duped out of Rs 23 lakh by fraudsters posing as Mumbai crime branch officials. Keep reading to know how it all happened.

The incident took place between December 6 and 7 this year. The fraudsters contacted the techie, claiming he was involved in a money laundering case linked to a prominent businessman. They falsely accused him of being a beneficiary of illegal earnings from the businessman and even claimed that his Aadhaar and PAN cards had been used to facilitate the crime. They also told him that an arrest warrant had already been issued against him.

Also read: Mangaluru man loses Rs 42.4 lakh after scammer asked him to create a Telegram account

The scammers then escalated the situation by making a video call to the victim, where they threatened to arrest him unless he paid a large sum of money. They even made him sit in front of his laptop camera, heightening the sense of urgency and fear. The fraudsters promised to resolve the issue and “hush it up” if he transferred money to three bank accounts they provided.

Desperate to avoid legal trouble, the victim drained his savings and even borrowed money from friends to meet the scammers’ demands. In total, he lost Rs 23 lakh in this elaborate scam.

Also read: Hyderabad housewife loses Rs 4.5 lakh in task completion scam: Here’s what happened

How to protect yourself from such scams

• Verify claims: If someone claims to be from a government agency or law enforcement, always verify their identity through official channels. Do not trust unsolicited calls or messages.
• Be skeptical of threats: Scammers often use threats, such as arrest or legal action, to create fear and pressure you into paying money. Remember, legitimate authorities do not demand payments via phone or video calls.
• Do not share personal information: Never share sensitive personal details like your Aadhaar or PAN card number with anyone over the phone or online unless you are sure of their identity.
• Report: If you suspect a scam, contact local authorities immediately. Do not engage with the fraudsters or try to resolve the issue on your own.