Mumbai: A 25-year-old student from IIT Bombay fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing Rs 7.29 lakh after scammers posing as government officials intimidated him with false allegations. The incident unfolded in July when the student received a call from someone claiming to represent the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller falsely accused him of being involved in 17 illegal activities linked to his mobile number.
To “avoid” deactivation of his number, the fraudster claimed the student needed a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the police and transferred the call to an alleged Cyber Crime Branch official. During a WhatsApp video call, a man dressed as a police officer demanded the student’s Aadhaar number and accused him of money laundering. Under pressure, the student transferred Rs 29,500 through UPI.
The following day, the scammers demanded more money, coercing the student into sharing his bank account details. Using this information, they siphoned off Rs 7 lakh. They assured the victim he was “safe” and would face no legal repercussions.
The student later realized he had been duped when he searched online about the “digital arrest” concept. Upon understanding the fraud, he reported the incident to the Powai police, who have since initiated an investigation. Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant against such scams and to verify the authenticity of any caller claiming to represent official agencies.
