Dehradun: In a recent incident of cyber fraud, a matter came to the fore in Dehradun when a retired teacher was duped of Rs 2.27 crores by fraudsters. According to the police complaint, the teacher received a call from an unknown individual impersonating Sub Inspector Vinoy Kumar Choubey from the Mumbai Cyber Crime unit.
The caller falsely claimed that a Rs 20 lakh transaction had been made using the teacher’s credentials for money laundering. To avoid arrest, the teacher was coerced into transferring Rs 2.27 crore over nine days. The police have registered a case against the unknown fraudsters.
Fraudster claimed money laundering through the bank account opened with teacher’s credentials
The incident occurred in the Kotwali Patel Nagar area, where retired teacher Mahipal Singh from Niranjanpur was deceived by cyber criminals. In his police complaint, Singh stated that on September 9, he received a call from someone claiming to be Sub Inspector Vinoy Kumar Choubey from the Mumbai Cyber Crime unit. The caller requested a video call to discuss a case. During the video call, the caller informed Singh that a bank account had been opened using his Aadhar card and mobile number, and a transaction of Rs 20 lakh had been made for money laundering.
Digital arrest for nine days
Recounting his ordeal, Mahipal Singh informed the police that the caller claimed an arrest warrant had been issued against him. When Singh asked how he could avoid arrest, the caller instructed him to remain under their surveillance and send WhatsApp messages every three hours to confirm his presence. Additionally, Singh was told he was prohibited from leaving his hometown.
On September 10, Singh received another call from the same individual, who instructed him to speak with a “police officer Akash Kulhari.” To further convince Singh, the fraudsters sent notices and court documents, making it appear as though he was genuinely implicated in a money laundering case. Between September 11 and September 17, Singh was coerced into transferring Rs 2.27 crore to the fraudsters’ accounts. It was only when they demanded additional money that Singh realized he had been deceived.
Case has been registered against the unknown perpetrators
Cyber Crime CO Ankush Mishra stated that a case has been registered against the unknown perpetrators based on Singh’s complaint. The bank accounts to which the money was transferred are currently under investigation. Mishra also noted that incidents of “digital arrest” are becoming increasingly common in cyber fraud cases.
Previous cases of cyber arrest in Dehradun
Earlier, a nurse in Dehradun was recently defrauded by cyber criminals who impersonated CBI officers. The nurse, Neetu Singh, was on leave from the United Nations Mission when she received an IVR call. The caller claimed her number was linked to illegal activities and threatened her with false accusations. Over a series of video calls, the fraudsters coerced her into transferring Rs 15.09 lakh to their accounts.
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