Mohali: A 65-year-old woman was duped of Rs 1.21 crore by cyber fraudsters posing as govt officials and threatened her with a so-called “digital arrest” after falsely claiming that a SIM card issued in her name had been used in terrorist activities. Police said the fraudsters manipulated the woman into transferring the money in several instalments on the pretext of an investigation and audit. The matter came to light when the accused continued to pressure her for additional payments, prompting her to realise she had been cheated. She then approached the cyber crime police station in Mohali and lodged a complaint.In her statement to the police, the woman said she received a call from an unknown number on Jan 13. The caller identified himself as Aman Kumar and claimed to be a senior official with the Data Protection Board of India. He told her that a SIM card allegedly purchased in her name in Mumbai had been used in terrorist activities. According to the police, the caller then connected her to another man who introduced himself as a senior officer. This second caller told her that investigating agencies had placed her under “digital arrest” and warned that she must cooperate if she wanted to avoid legal action. The accused allegedly kept her engaged on long phone calls, gaining access to details of her bank accounts.On the guise of verification and auditing, the fraudsters told her that the entire balance in her accounts needed to be transferred to a specific bank account for scrutiny. They assured her that the money would be returned within 24 hours after completion of the so-called investigation. Trusting their claims, the woman initially transferred around Rs 20 lakh. Later, she transferred another Rs 1.01 crore from a different bank account to the same account provided by the callers.Still, the accused continued to demand more money, which raised her suspicions. Realising she had fallen victim to a cyber fraud, she approached the police. Officials said a case has been registered against unknown persons, and an investigation is underway. The police are examining bank account transactions and call records to trace the accused and determine how the fraud was executed.
