Pune: In one of the largest cyber frauds reported recently, criminals have scammed a retired female engineering professor and an elderly couple in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, transferring a total of ₹5 crore through a sophisticated online con.
The cybercriminals impersonated police officers and central agency officials, threatening the victims with fake cases related to terrorism to coerce them into transferring their life savings. Separate FIRs were filed at Pune Cyber Crime Police Station and Pimpri-Chinchwad Cyber Crime Police Station on Monday.
Fraud Targeting 64-Year-Old Retired Professor
The first case involved a 64-year-old retired engineering professor in Pune, who lost ₹3.08 crore between October 25 and November 12. The scam began with a phone call from a supposed “Cyber Data Protection Officer” at Colaba Police Station, claiming that her name and documents were linked to terrorist financing.
During video calls, the fraudsters misused the names of a Maharashtra Police Inspector and an IPS officer, extracting detailed information about her savings, bank balances, fixed deposits, and investments. The scammers then showed her images of alleged arrested terrorists and pressured her to transfer her money into “government accounts” to avoid legal consequences. In six large transactions, the professor transferred ₹3.08 crore before realizing she had fallen victim to fraud and contacted the cyber police.
Elderly Couple Loses ₹2.14 Crore
The second case involved a 74-year-old retired manager and his wife, a former teacher, in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Between October 29 and November 13, the couple transferred ₹2.14 crore after fraudsters impersonated officers from Nashik Police Headquarters, claiming the wife’s name was linked to a Popular Front of India (PFI) case under NIA investigation.
The scammers obtained financial information about LIC policies, fixed deposits, bank savings, and postal deposits, coercing the couple to transfer the money to fake government accounts, assuring them it would be returned as per RBI guidelines. Only later did the couple realize they had been defrauded and approached the cyber police.
Rising Cyber Threats
Authorities have warned that despite awareness campaigns, cases of digital arrests, online threats, and blackmail are rising rapidly. Cybercriminals are increasingly impersonating police, CBI, narcotics officials, RBI officers, ED agents, and even judges to target unsuspecting citizens.
The police have urged the public to remain vigilant against any calls or demands for money under the pretext of legal action or official investigation and to immediately report such incidents to the cyber helpline 1930.
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