Cyber Fraud in Thane: Man Duped of Rs 59 Lakh by Fake Customs and CBI Officials

Thane: A 54-year-old man from Thane, Maharashtra, fell victim to an intricate online scam, losing Rs 59 lakh to fraudsters who impersonated Customs and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers. The incident took place between November 26 and December 2, when the victim was coerced into transferring money to the scammers under the threat of legal action.

According to police reports, the victim first received a call from someone claiming to be a Customs officer from Delhi. The caller informed him that a parcel addressed to him had been intercepted, allegedly containing drugs. He further stated that the case was being referred to the CBI for investigation and urged the victim to cooperate and contact a CBI officer.

Believing the situation to be real, the victim received a second call from a person claiming to be a CBI officer. This individual accused the victim of being linked to serious criminal activities, including human trafficking and money laundering. To avoid facing charges and clear his name, the caller demanded that the victim pay Rs 59 lakh.

In a panic, the victim transferred the money to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. After transferring the funds, the victim started to suspect something was wrong. Realizing he had been scammed, he immediately approached the Naupada police station to file a complaint.

A case has been registered under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Police are investigating the matter and working to track down the scammers responsible for the crime.

This incident underscores the growing sophistication of online fraud, with criminals preying on victims’ fear and confusion to extort large sums of money. Authorities are urging the public to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls, especially from individuals posing as government officials demanding money.