Pune: Fake CBI Officer Swindles Wakad Based Engineer of Rs 40 Lakh 

A cyber scammer pretending to be a CBI official has conned a 46-year-old software engineer from Wakad, Pune, out of Rs 40 lakh. The incident occurred on March 21 and 22 when the criminal engaged the victim in a lengthy video call, claiming it was for a money laundering investigation. Inspector Vitthal Salunkhe of Wakad police informed that the scammer manipulated the victim into revealing sensitive details by sharing his phone screen.

The fraudster then directed the victim to carry out multiple financial transactions, using the shared screen to access the victim’s bank credentials unlawfully, resulting in the withdrawal of Rs 40 lakh.

Upon realizing the fraud, the victim filed a complaint with the cybercrime unit of Pimpri Chinchwad police. The Wakad police initiated an investigation after verifying the complaint.

The victim recounted receiving an unexpected call on March 21, supposedly from the CBI, urging him to join a video call via a communication app. During the call, the impersonator falsely claimed a warrant had been issued against the victim for money laundering, coercing him to deposit a security sum to cancel the warrant. To carry out the scam, the imposter instructed the victim to share his phone screen and conduct transactions, enabling access to OTP and PINs, thus facilitating the illegal withdrawal.

Authorities are now probing the incident and have requested transaction records from the bank for further investigation.