In the latest case registered with the cyber crime police station, the complainant, who heads a manufacturing company, received a call in the first week of May from a man posing as an official from the Telecom department. The complainant was given a contact number and was told he should speak to an officer from Lucknow police. Later, he called the number and the man identified himself, using the name of a senior IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre.

The ‘officer’ told the complainant that his account had been flagged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) because Rs 95 lakh obtained as commission in international drug trade were received in his account.

As the complainant kept denying his involvement, he was sent a fraudulent letter from the ED claiming that the complainant had received the money and he could be arrested.

The ‘officer’ then sought information about various bank accounts held by the complainant and also the operations of his company. The complainant was told that his accounts will be ‘audited by the Reserve Bank of India’. Over a period of 10 days, he was made to transfer over Rs 95 lakh in 15 transactions for reasons including ‘transfer of funds to government accounts for audit.’ As the frauds continued asking for more funds, the complainant realized that he had been cheated. A probe has been launched by the cyber crime police station of Pune.

Senior Inspector Suresh Shinde, in-charge of the cyber crime police station, said, “We are probing several cases in which the victims have been defrauded on the pretext of disconnection of services citing fake reasons. Multiple advisories have been issued over the last few months sensitizing citizens about such frauds. In such cases, it is very important for people to talk to their family members or friends about such threats or harassment so that loss of life savings and hard earned money can be averted.”

Advisory from Department of Telecommunications (DoT)

On May 14, the DoT issued an advisory to citizens not to take fake calls wherein callers threaten to disconnect their mobile numbers, or that their mobile numbers are being misused in illegal activities. The DoT had also issued advisory about WhatsApp calls from foreign origin mobile numbers impersonating government officials and duping people.

“Cyber ​​criminals through such calls try to threaten or steal personal information to carry out cyber financial frauds. The DoT does not authorize anyone to make such calls on its behalf and has advised people to stay vigilant and report such fraud communications at ‘Chakshu – Report Suspected Fraud Communications’ facility of Sanchar Saathi portal. Such proactive reporting helps DoT in prevention of misuse of telecom resources for cyber-crimes and financial frauds.” said the release issued by the DoT on May 14.

The DoT also advises citizens to report at cyber-crime helpline number 1930 or http://www.cybercrime.gov.in in case one is already a victim of such scams.