Cyber Crime in Pune: Retired Engineer Duped of Rs 1.07 Crore by Fake Mumbai Crime Branch Officers

Pune, 22nd December 2025: A 69-year-old Pune resident was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.07 crore after cyber fraudsters impersonating Mumbai Police crime branch officers intimidated him with threats of arrest in a fabricated money laundering and terror funding case.

The incident took place between November 26 and December 8, following which the victim, a retired employee of a private engineering firm, approached the Pune Cyber Police and lodged a formal complaint. The complainant lives alone at home, while his children reside in different parts of the city.

Senior Inspector Swapnali Shinde of the Pune Cyber Police said the victim received a phone call on November 26 from unknown persons who introduced themselves as senior officials of the Mumbai Crime Branch. “The callers told him that his bank account was allegedly used by terrorists for illegal transactions, including the purchase of firearms,” she said.

According to the police, the fraudsters claimed that the weapons bought using the victim’s account were used in terrorist activities and that the transactions amounted to money laundering. To make the threat appear genuine, the suspects repeatedly contacted the victim through video calls on a messaging application.

“The callers were seen wearing police uniforms during the video calls, and the background appeared to resemble a police station,” Inspector Shinde said, adding that the accused created an atmosphere of fear to psychologically pressure the victim.

Police said the cybercrooks warned the senior citizen that he could be arrested at any time and told him that such an arrest would cause public embarrassment and distress to his family. “They assured him that he would be spared and issued a so-called no-objection certificate if he paid a settlement amount,” Shinde said.

Under sustained pressure and fear of arrest, the victim reportedly liquidated his fixed deposits and personal savings and transferred a total of Rs 1.07 crore to multiple bank accounts shared by the accused.

A case has been registered by the Pune Cyber Police, and further investigation is underway to trace the accused and the flow of funds. Police have once again urged citizens, especially senior citizens, to remain cautious and verify the identity of callers claiming to be law enforcement officials.