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Following this, the victim received a video call from another fraudster, who posed as a CID officer and was dressed in a police uniform. The fraudster claimed that the doctor’s name was linked to illegal transactions involving organ and child trafficking, with a whopping Rs 3 crore traced to her bank accounts. He threatened her with arrest unless she cooperated. The victim was told that she was under surveillance and was coerced into sharing her financial details, including savings and investments. To further complicate the situation, a second fraudster posing as a prosecutor contacted her and advised her to transfer her funds to a "government account" for the ongoing investigation. The fraudster assured her that the money would be returned soon.
In a series of manipulative tactics, the criminals convinced the doctor to transfer money from her savings and investments to the mule account. During the first week of March, the doctor reportedly made five substantial transfers, amounting to Rs 70 lakh, to a fraudulent mule account. As the demands for more funds continued, the victim was even persuaded to mortgage her house to meet the required amount.
It was only when the doctor spoke to a relative about the situation that the gravity of the scam began to dawn on her. The relative immediately recognized the signs of fraud, prompting the doctor to approach the cyber crime police station. An FIR (First Information Report) was lodged, and authorities began investigating the case.
Investigations have uncovered that these scams are orchestrated by multi-layered, geographically dispersed multinational syndicates. They exploit unsuspecting victims, directing money into mule accounts, and then channelling it to international cyber masterminds through cryptocurrency transactions.
Also Read: 65-year-old NRI doctor scammed of Rs 9.77 Lakh in cyber fraud
According to TNIE, in an advisory issued about such online blackmail cases, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in May last year, “A large number of complaints are being reported on National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) regarding intimidation, blackmail, extortion and ‘digital arrests’ by cybercriminals posing as police authorities, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Enforcement Directorate and other law enforcement agencies.” These frauds were also highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme last year.
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