In the last one year, people across India have lost crores of rupees to two different kinds of
online fraud
-- one task-related; two alleged CBI threat based. In the first one, users are asked to do certain simple tasks like writing restaurant reviews on Facebook or liking Youtube videos in return for huge returns. In the other, criminals pose as CBI officials and trap innocent people by threatening them that a parcel in their name has been caught by customs department.
In a similar CBI-related fraud a former managing director (MD) of an MNC in Thane lost Rs 4.8 crore to online fraudsters. The 67-year-old victim reportedly fell prey to scammers impersonating as CBI officials. The elaborate scheme began with a phone call. The
fraudsters
claimed that they had intercepted a package addressed to Taiwan containing illegal items like MDMA, passports, and credit cards. As per the modus operandi in such cases, they already possessed some of his personal details, including his
Aadhaar card
number. They even fabricated a case against him at a Mumbai police station, threatening arrest for money laundering and drug trafficking.
Asked the victim to download a video calling app
Further manipulating the victim, the scammers convinced him to download a video calling app for a supposed investigation. The video calling app is Skype in most cases. Disguised as central agency officials with fake logos, they coerced him into revealing sensitive information like bank account details, debit card numbers, and CVV codes. They even coerced him to disclose details of his property holdings.
Accusing him of illegal transactions, fraudsters gained his trust by claiming that the
Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) was suspicious. They then tricked him into transferring Rs 1 crore to his wife's account. Thankfully, the victim eventually realized the scam after consulting his son in the UK. The Thane police are now investigating the case.
This incident highlights the sophistication of online frauds and the importance of staying vigilant. Never share confidential information over the phone, and always verify the legitimacy of any caller claiming to be from an official agency.
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