Pune: Cyber fraudsters posing as Mumbai police duped a 71-year-old Kothrud resident of Rs74 lakh by threatening to arrest him in a fabricated case.It took place between June 27 and July 1. The man lodged a complaint with the Pune Cyber police on Thursday.A cyber police officer said that on June 27, the complainant received a call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be a Mumbai police officer and that illegal financial transactions had been carried out using the complainant’s Aadhaar details, resulting in a money laundering case registered against him. The crook also threatened arrest.“Under the pretext of an investigation, the fraudster told the complainant he was under ‘digital arrest’ and instructed him not to inform anyone or else he could face another criminal case,” the officer said.The fraudster then gained details of the complainant’s bank balance, fixed deposits and other investments before directing him to transfer the money to different accounts. He assured the complainant of a refund once the investigation was complete.“The complainant transferred Rs 74 lakh to the bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. He realised was cheated when the refund never came,” the officer said.The police registered a case under sections 308 (extortion), 318 (cheating) and 319 (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.
