Ranchi: A retired coal company officer residing in the Bariatu area of Ranchi has fallen victim to an elaborate cyber scam, losing a staggering Rs 2.27 crore, including his wife’s savings.
The scam unfolded over an 11-day period, during which the victim was digitally confined and coerced into transferring large sums of money under duress. The victim has now filed a complaint with the CID’s Cyber Police Station and reported the crime to the cybercrime helpline (1930).
According to the FIR filed, the victim first received a call on December 10, 2024, from an individual claiming to be “Abhiraj Shukla,” an officer with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller accused the victim of sending illegal advertisements and misleading messages, leading to threats and intimidation through video calls. The cybercriminals, who included both men and women, manipulated the victim into transferring Rs 2.27 crore to various bank accounts.
Among the fraudsters was a woman identifying herself as “Poonam Gupta,” claiming to be from the Delhi Crime Branch, and a man who told that he is a senior IPS officer. They accused the victim of being involved in a money laundering case and pressured him into transferring money repeatedly, under the guise of aiding an investigation.
The scammers kept the victim under constant pressure by demanding he remain on video calls for 11 days, all while coercing him into transferring money to different accounts for the so-called investigation. They convinced him that his bank accounts were under surveillance as part of the alleged case.
Over the course of several days, the victim transferred large sums of money, in different accounts in many banks.
After realizing he had been defrauded, the victim attempted to contact the criminals, only to find that his calls were blocked. The total amount stolen from him wiped out his life savings, including those of his wife.
The CID has launched an investigation into the matter, and an FIR has been filed in connection with this high-profile cybercrime. Authorities are working to track down the perpetrators behind this well-orchestrated scam.
