The sufferer transferred Rs 11.8 crore in a number of transactions over a time period. (Representational)
Bengaluru:
A 39-year-old software program engineer turned a sufferer to a “digital arrest” rip-off and misplaced Rs 11.8 crore when fraudsters impersonating police officers claimed that his Aadhaar card was being misused to open financial institution accounts for cash laundering, police mentioned on Monday.
The fraud occurred between November 25 and December 12, they mentioned.
According to police, in his criticism, the sufferer alleged that on November 11, he acquired a name from an individual who claimed to be an officer of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The alleged officer claimed that his SIM card, which was linked to the Aadhaar card, was used for unlawful commercials and harassing messages.
The fraudster additional alleged {that a} case was registered in reference to this in Mumbai’s Colaba Cyber Police Station.
Later, he bought a name from an individual claiming to be a police officer alleging that his Aadhaar particulars have been being misused to open financial institution accounts for cash laundering, the FIR said.
The fraudster warned him to maintain the matter confidential and likewise allegedly threatened him that if he didn’t cooperate with the digital investigation, he could be bodily arrested.
Then, he additionally bought a name from an individual asking him to obtain the Skype app following which a person, allegedly wearing Mumbai police uniform video-called him and claimed {that a} businessman had opened a checking account utilizing his Aadhaar to conduct transactions price Rs 6 crore, the FIR additional said.
However, on November 25, one other man in police uniform referred to as him over Skype and alleged that his case was being heard within the high court docket and threatened to arrest his household if he didn’t comply, in keeping with the complainant.
Citing a faux Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tips, the fraudsters allegedly requested him to switch funds to sure accounts on the pretext of “verification functions” or face authorized penalties.
According to the FIR, the sufferer transferred a complete sum of Rs 11.8 crore in a number of transactions to varied financial institution accounts over a time period, fearing arrest. However, after they began demanding for more cash, the sufferer realised that he had fallen prey to fraudsters and lodged a criticism with the police.
A case has been registered beneath the IT Act and related sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for dishonest and dishonest by impersonation, police mentioned, including that additional investigation is underway.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)