A 39-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru lost Rs 11.8 crore after falling for a “digital arrest” scam. The scammers, posing as police officers, tricked him into believing his Aadhaar card was being used for money laundering by opening fake bank accounts. The scam took place between November 25 and December.
How the Scam Happened
The victim received a call on November 11 from someone pretending to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). They told him his SIM card, linked to his Aadhaar card, was being used for illegal ads and harassment. The caller warned him not to speak to anyone about it.
Soon after, another person called, pretending to be a police officer. This time, they claimed his Aadhaar card was being used to open bank accounts for money laundering and threatened him with arrest unless he cooperated with an investigation.
How the Fraudsters Deceived Him
The scam continued when the victim was asked to download Skype. A man on video, dressed as a Mumbai police officer, told him that a businessman had used his Aadhaar details to open a bank account and transferred Rs 6 crore. The fraudster made further threats, saying the case was in the top court and that the victim’s family would be arrested if he didn’t comply.
The scammers also showed a fake Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guideline and demanded that the victim transfer funds to certain accounts for “verification” to avoid legal trouble.
The Victim Transfers the Money
Fearing for his arrest and the safety of his family, the victim transferred Rs 11.8 crore to various bank accounts over several days. It was only when the fraudsters demanded more money that the victim realised he had been scammed. He then reported the incident to the police.
Investigation and Action
The police have filed a case under the IT Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating and impersonation. Investigations are ongoing to track down the scammers.