Nagpur: Senior Citizen Loses ₹29.30 Lakh in Cyber Fraud by Fake Police Officers

In a shocking incident in Nagpur, a 71-year-old man was cheated of ₹29.30 lakh by cyber criminals who pretended to be police officers investigating the recent Delhi blast case. The fraudsters falsely claimed that the elderly man's name was linked to a money-laundering case and threatened him with arrest.

The scam started on November 11, when the victim received a WhatsApp video call from someone who introduced himself as Sub-Inspector Sumit Mishra from the Mumbai Police Headquarters. The caller accused him of involvement in a major money-laundering racket connected to the Delhi blast and warned of immediate police action.

The fake officer then placed the senior citizen under so-called digital house arrest, instructing him not to speak to anyone. Soon after, another person posing as an official from the Lucknow Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) joined the conversation and repeated the threats, increasing pressure on the victim.

Frightened and confused, the man followed their instructions and transferred money in several transactions. He even broke his fixed deposits to arrange the amount, ultimately losing ₹29.30 lakh. Once he told the callers that he had no more money, they disconnected and disappeared.

Later, the victim informed his son, who helped him file a complaint at the Cyber Police Station. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IT Act and cheating, and an investigation is underway to identify the fraudsters.

Police have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify such calls directly with official agencies. They warned that cybercriminals are increasingly using fear and fake identities to trap innocent people, especially senior citizens.