A Bengaluru homemaker fell victim to an elaborate scam when she was defrauded of ₹5 lakh by an imposter posing as a member of the Mumbai Crime Branch. The incident has sent shockwaves through the city, highlighting the need for increased vigilance against fraudulent activities.
The victim, identified as Mrs. Meena Sharma, was targeted by the scammer in a highly convincing phone call. The impersonator claimed to be a senior officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch investigating a complex financial fraud case allegedly involving Mrs. Sharma’s bank accounts.
Under the guise of the investigation, the imposter skillfully extracted sensitive personal information from Mrs. Sharma, including her bank details, Aadhaar card information, and other confidential data. The scammer warned her of potential legal consequences if she failed to cooperate with the “investigation.”
Fearful and coerced, Mrs. Sharma transferred ₹5 lakh from her bank account to a specified bank account provided by the scammer. Believing she was assisting a genuine law enforcement inquiry, she complied with the demands.
It wasn’t until later that Mrs. Sharma realized she had been deceived. She contacted her local police station and reported the incident, providing all available information to aid in the investigation.
Bengaluru Police are working in coordination with their counterparts in Mumbai to trace the fraudster and recover the defrauded amount. They have launched a full-scale investigation into the case, examining phone records and bank transactions to identify the suspect.
The incident underscores the need for heightened awareness and caution, especially when dealing with unsolicited phone calls or messages. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly advised the public not to share sensitive personal information over the phone unless they can independently verify the caller’s authenticity.
Banks and financial institutions have also been alerted to the possibility of such scams and have been encouraged to educate their customers about fraud prevention measures.
This unfortunate incident serves as a cautionary tale, reminding individuals to remain vigilant and verify the identity of anyone requesting personal or financial information, especially over the phone or online. It highlights the importance of reporting fraudulent activities promptly to law enforcement agencies to prevent further victimization and bring scammers to justice.
