Cyber fraudster poses as CBI officer, defrauds man of Rs 14 lakh

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: A city resident, fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme after receiving a call on September 25 from an individual claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller, who identified himself as Rajesh Mittal, accused the person of involvement in illegal activities, including money laundering, and alleged that a complaint had been lodged against him in Maharashtra. Despite the victim's denial of any wrongdoing, the situation escalated when the caller transferred him to a person posing as a CBI officer. The impostor created a sense of urgency, insisting that Pareek attend an immediate investigation.

When the person expressed his inability to travel, the scammer suggested an online video interrogation. The fraudster claimed that an HDFC bank account had been opened in his name, allegedly connected to a six-million-dollar transaction and warned him that he would be under constant surveillance. The criminals then instructed the victim to download the Signal messaging app to facilitate a video statement, a common tactic used in digital arrest scams.

After recording the statement, they pressured him to transfer 80 percent of his bank balance to an RBI account for verification. Between September 25 and October 2, the victim reportedly transferred a total of Rs 14.57 lakh, police sources said. The scam came to light when he reported it to the authorities on October 3 prompting them to register a case and initiate an investigation.