New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case after a complaint revealed that scammers allegedly duped a man out of nearly Rs 3 lakh by falsely promising him a prize of Rs 5.6 crore, claiming it was from the popular TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).
According to the FIR filed by the CBI, unknown individuals contacted the victim, pretending to represent two fake entities named “KBC Mumbai” and “KBC Kolkata”. They claimed the complainant had won prizes that were increased to massive sums: Rs 25 lakh was elevated to Rs 5.6 crore by KBC Mumbai, and Rs 75 lakh was raised to Rs 2.75 crore by KBC Kolkata. They then demanded a total of Rs 2.91 lakh in “processing fees” for the victim to claim the prize money.
Complaint from PMO
The complaint further said that a woman posed as a senior CBI official, using the Prime Minister’s image to gain the victim’s trust. She pressured him to deposit the money, assuring him it was required to release the award.
Following a complaint from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the CBI took swift action, registering a case under sections of fraud, forgery, and the Information Technology Act. The investigation aims to identify those behind the scam, as the FIR was filed against unknown individuals.
The CBI warns the public to remain cautious of such fraudulent schemes, especially those using the name of trusted entities and official imagery to lend credibility to false promises of large prize winnings.
