According to a report by TOI, a 78-year-old woman from South Mumbai has become the victim of a cyber scam, losing ₹1.5 crore to fraudsters pretending to be Delhi Police officers. The elderly woman was tricked into believing she was involved in criminal activities like money laundering and drug trafficking.
Cyber Scam Targeting Elderly Woman Involves Fake Police and Courier Officials
The incident unfolded after the woman sent food to her daughter in the US through a courier service. The next day, she received a call from someone who claimed to be from the courier company. The caller informed her that her package contained suspicious items such as her Aadhaar card, expired passports, credit cards, illegal drugs, and $2,000 in cash, accusing her of being involved with criminals.
In the following days, the woman was approached by people pretending to be police officers and government officials. They went so far as to conduct video calls while wearing uniforms and showed fake documents, like arrest warrants, to make their claims appear legitimate.
Elderly Woman Falls Victim to ₹1.5 Crore Cyber Scam, Investigation Underway
Believing the scammers’ claims were part of an “investigation,” the woman, convinced of their authenticity, provided her bank details. As a result, she transferred ₹1.5 crore to the accounts the fraudsters had specified.
The scam was uncovered when the woman confided in a family member, who encouraged her to report the incident to the Cybercrime Police Helpline. The Mumbai Police are now investigating the case, noting that the scammers had transferred the money through multiple accounts to cover their tracks.
Experts Advise Caution to Prevent Cyber Scams Targeting Older Adults
Experts urge caution, especially for older adults, to avoid falling victim to such scams. They advise verifying the authenticity of calls from unfamiliar numbers, avoiding the sharing of personal or banking information over the phone, and promptly reporting any suspicious activities to the police or a cybercrime helpline.
