Mumbai: An 81-year-old retired railway junior engineer from Mumbai Central lost ₹26 lakh after cyber fraudsters impersonating bank officials contacted him through a video call, claiming that his life certificate had been rejected. The scammers then asked him to “verify” his bank details and requested his debit card number and PIN.
Sensing something suspicious, the victim refused to share his details and switched off his phone. However, an hour later, he received alerts about multiple unauthorized transactions from his account. He immediately contacted the national cyber helpline (1930) and reported the fraud.
An FIR has been registered under sections relating to cyber cheating, impersonation, and violations of the Information Technology Act. Police are tracing the accounts where the money was transferred. “We have identified several recipient accounts, many of which are mule accounts. Most account holders are untraceable. Even arresting one suspect could lead us to the larger network,” an officer said.
Following the incident, Mumbai Police have launched an awareness campaign aimed at protecting senior citizens from cyber fraud. As part of the initiative, officers are identifying vulnerable elderly residents, reaching out to them, and offering guidance on recognizing and responding to suspicious calls.
