Pimple Saudagar, June 17, 2024

In a distressing turn of events, a retired chemical engineer from Pimple Saudagar has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam, losing a staggering Rs 81 lakh of his hard-earned savings. The 68-year-old engineer received a call in late May alleging that his phone number was associated with illegal advertisements and objectionable content, as reported by the Indian Express.

The caller, claiming to be from authorities, threatened to disconnect his phone and initiated a series of coercive tactics. To add credibility, the scammer connected the engineer to another person posing as an inspector from the Fort Police Station in Mumbai. This faux officer escalated the situation by falsely implicating the engineer in money laundering activities, citing supposed Supreme Court orders to freeze his assets and arrest him.

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In a further attempt to legitimize the scam, the victim was video-called by an individual posing as a CBI officer, complete with a police logo display. The fraudsters manipulated the victim into transferring Rs 60 lakh and Rs 21 lakh to purported government accounts under the guise of resolving the fabricated charges against him.

As the scam unfolded, the engineer became suspicious and eventually realized he had been deceived. He promptly reported the incident to the police and filed a First Information Report (FIR), initiating an investigation into the elaborate fraud scheme.

Authorities caution the public against responding to such deceptive calls and urge vigilance in safeguarding personal and financial information. Online scams continue to evolve, posing a significant threat to individuals’ financial security across India.

Stay tuned to Times of Senapati for further updates on this developing story.

(Content Paraphrased from Divya Bhati inputs)

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