Cyber Thief Posing as Mumbai Police and CBI Scams Ayurvedacharya of Rs 33.57 Lakh in Pune
Pune, 15th April 2024: In a shocking incident, a cyber thief defrauded a 67-year-old Ayurvedacharya residing in Karve Nagar out of a hefty sum of Rs 33,57,502. The fraudster posed as a member of the Mumbai Police and CBI, instilling fear by dropping the name of a renowned encounter specialist officer in Mumbai.
Dr Dilip Prabhakar Gadgil, residing in Shahu Colony, Karve Nagar, promptly reported the scam to the Warje Police Station. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act of 2000 against the perpetrators, including various bank account holders involved in the fraudulent activity that transpired between February 7 and April 14, 2024.
The modus operandi of the cyber thief involved initiating a video call via WhatsApp to Dr. Gadgil, claiming to be Police Officer and famous encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma from Mumbai. Despite the video call, the fraudster’s face remained concealed. During the call, Dr. Gadgil was falsely accused of money laundering and coerced into believing that the CBI would launch an investigation unless he cooperated.
The victim was instructed to maintain absolute secrecy, refraining from divulging details or leaving his residence. The cyber thief coerced Dr Gadgil into disclosing his Aadhaar number and other sensitive bank information through a deceptive form, including his account balance.
Under the pretence of investigating Dr Gadgil’s accounts, the cyber thief manipulated him into initiating a Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transfer, demanding a staggering sum of Rs 30,57,502 under various fabricated pretexts. Police Inspector (Crime) Nilakant Jagtap is leading the ongoing investigation into this elaborate scam.
This marks the second instance of Dr Dilip Gadgil falling victim to cyber fraud. In April 2022, he was similarly duped by cyber criminals, losing Rs 49,000 in the process, prompting him to complain at that time as well.
