Mumbai: A 77-year-old resident of Ghatkopar was allegedly cheated of Rs 50 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in a digital arrest scam, police said. An FIR has been registered at the East Region Cyber Police Station.
The complainant, a labour law advisor living in Garodia Nagar, told police that he received multiple calls between May 12 and May 14 from individuals claiming to be senior ED officials from Delhi. The accused identified themselves as Vijay Khanna, Sandeep Yadav, and Rahul Gupta.
According to the FIR, the fraudsters informed the victim that a bank account had allegedly been opened in Delhi using his Aadhaar card and was being used for illegal financial activities. They further claimed that the Supreme Court had ordered his arrest and the seizure of his assets.
Police said the accused allegedly threatened the senior citizen with legal consequences and harm, while warning him not to discuss the matter with anyone. The victim was also allegedly made to attend WhatsApp video calls staged to resemble court proceedings and official ED interactions.
Fearing arrest and concerned for his safety, the victim prematurely withdrew a fixed deposit worth Rs 50 lakh and transferred the amount through RTGS on May 14 to a bank account provided by the accused.
The complainant later approached Pant Nagar police, where he realised he had been targeted in a digital arrest scam. He subsequently lodged a complaint on the cybercrime helpline 1930, following which an FIR was registered on May 15.
