The scam began when the complainant received a call from someone identifying as an officer from TRAI.
The caller accused him of spreading misleading advertisements and using his mobile number for fraudulent activities.
The victim was then contacted by another individual who introduced herself as an officer from the Delhi Cybercrime branch.
Imagine receiving a call from someone claiming to be an official from a trusted organisation, warning you of serious legal trouble. Feeling threatened, you may panic and do whatever it takes to clear your name. Unfortunately, this is the exact trap that a retired officer from Ranchi, Jharkhand, fell into, losing Rs 2.27 crore in just 11 days.
The retired officer, who had worked for Coal India, was targeted by cybercriminals who posed as officials from various government agencies. The scam began on December 10, 2024, when he received a call from someone identifying himself as Abhiraj Shukla, an officer from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller accused him of spreading misleading advertisements and using his mobile number for fraudulent activities. Despite the officer’s denial, the caller claimed his personal documents had been misused, and threatened him with arrest for money laundering.
Also read: Delhi man loses Rs 9 lakh to fraudsters posing as electricity department officials
The victim was then contacted by another individual, a woman named Poonam Gupta, who introduced herself as an officer from the Delhi Cybercrime branch. She instructed him to use his mobile camera for identification and assured him that cooperation would clear his name. Over the next 11 days, the officer was forced into staying on video calls with multiple people, including someone pretending to be a senior IPS officer.
The criminals manipulated him into transferring his life savings—Rs 2.27 crore—across eight different bank accounts. The money came from both his and his wife’s accounts, which they had accumulated over the years. After the transfers, the scammers cut off all communication, blocking the officer’s number. Realising he had been scammed, the victim immediately reported the crime.
Also read: Bengaluru software engineer loses Rs 1.2cr in courier scam: Here’s what happened
How to protect yourself from such scams
- Verify the caller: Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from an official organisation. Call back using official numbers, not the ones provided by the caller.
- Don’t share personal details: Never share sensitive information, like bank details or documents, over the phone or online.
- Be cautious of threats: Scammers often use threats to pressure you into acting quickly. Take a moment to think and consult someone you trust.
- Report suspicious calls: If you receive suspicious calls, report them immediately to the authorities.
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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
