Fraudsters Swindle Pune Residents Of ₹ 28 Crore Through Fake Calls
Fraudsters Swindle Pune Residents Of ₹ 28 Crore Through Fake Calls
Over the past eight months, cyber fraudsters have defrauded Pune residents of ₹28 crore by making fake calls and sending fraudulent messages. The scam typically involves scammers posing as officials from banks or utility companies to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or making payments.
In one recent case, a senior citizen from Kothrud, received a call from someone claiming to be Deputy Commissioner of Police in Lucknow. The caller falsely accused the victim of money laundering and human trafficking, demanding an urgent deposit into a specified bank account. Following the call, scammers withdrew ₹3.75 lakh from the victim’s account. The victim reported the incident to Kothrud Police Station on September 9.
Similarly, a woman from Lohgaon fell prey to a scam involving ₹6.5 lakh. Scammers used various tactics, including fake calls and messages regarding overdue bills or KYC updates. For instance, a Kothrud resident was tricked into paying ₹7.5 lakh under the pretense of settling an MNGL gas bill. Another case involved a Sinhagad road resident, who was deceived into paying ₹11 lakh due to a false electricity bill warning. A youth from Hadapsar lost ₹13 lakh when scammers claimed his money was linked to drug trafficking and money laundering. There are several other cases where the victims have lost a huge sum of money due to such fake calls.
Additionally, a victim from Kharadi received a fake message purportedly from a bank, leading him to a phishing link that allowed the scammers to steal ₹50 lakh from his account. Chandan Nagar police have filed a case in this regard.
Authorities are urging the public to be cautious and verify any such calls or messages to avoid falling victim to these frauds.
