Retired Bank Officer Duped of Rs 19.50 Lakh in Fake ATS Investigation Scam

Strategic Insights -

A retired bank officer from Nagpur was digitally arrested by cyber fraudsters posing as police and ATS officers for four days. The scammers, through fake video calls and forged documents, compelled the 66-year-old man to transfer Rs 19.50 lakh from his savings. The investigation began when the victim received a call from a woman claiming to be Senior Police Inspector Anita Verma from Mumbai Police Headquarters, accusing him of sending 21 photos of the Army and Navy to Pakistan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The retired bank officer was duped of Rs 19.50 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as police and ATS officers.
  • The scam started with a call from a woman identifying herself as Senior Police Inspector Anita Verma from Mumbai Police Headquarters.
  • The victim was accused of receiving a 10% commission of Rs 70 lakh from a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The fake ATS officers introduced themselves as "Prem Kumar Gautam" and "Sadanand Pethe" and claimed to be investigating a money laundering case.
  • The fraudsters instructed the victim to withdraw Rs 12.50 lakh from his UCO Bank provident fund and another Rs 7 lakh from his account and transfer it to their "verification accounts."
  • The victim realized the scam when a friend noticed a suspicious letter supposedly from the Reserve Bank of India, confirming the letter was fake.
  • The police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the cybercriminals.

Statistics:

  • Rs 19.50 lakh was transferred by the victim to the fake accounts.
  • The scam involved fake video calls, forged documents, and threats of arrest.
  • The victim was digitally arrested for four days.
  • The investigation began on September 19, 2024, with the victim receiving the initial fake call.

Sources:

  • The Hitavada
  • Wathoda Police Station
  • Reserve Bank of India (letter forged by the scammers)