Mumbai Elderly Man Duped of ₹20 Lakh by Fake CBI Officer

Girgaum, Mumbai: In a shocking case of cyber fraud in Mumbai, an 85-year-old businessman from Girgaum was tricked into transferring ₹20 lakh by a scammer impersonating a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer.

The ordeal began in April when the victim received a WhatsApp video call from the fraudster, who accused him of being linked to a ₹5,000 crore money laundering case through a bank account allegedly opened using his Aadhaar Card. To strengthen his deceit, the impostor sent fake CBI and RBI documents, even claiming the elderly man was under "digital arrest," intimidating him into silence.

Driven by fear, the victim transferred ₹20 lakh across multiple accounts. The scammer maintained control by demanding updates every two hours, leaving the victim in distress.

The victim eventually confided in his family, who identified the scam and urged him to file a complaint with the South Cyber Police.

A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act, addressing charges of cheating, impersonation of a public servant, and criminal intimidation. Authorities are actively working to apprehend the fraudster and recover the funds.

The police advise citizens to always verify claims made by individuals posing as officials and refrain from transferring money or sharing sensitive information without proper validation.