A lawyer in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was cheated out of ₹16 lakh by cyber criminals who posed as law enforcement officers, the police reported on Friday.
The victim, Jagmohan Shrivastava, received a phone call on October 8, during which the fraudsters introduced themselves as officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Mumbai Crime Branch. They falsely informed him that a parcel in his name containing MDMA drugs had been confiscated, and threatened him with imprisonment if he did not comply with their demands.
Details of the Scam
According to Ashok Jadon, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Gwalior, the fraudsters used fear tactics to coerce the lawyer into transferring ₹16 lakh. They warned him that a criminal case could be filed against him for the parcel, leading to the lawyer’s panic.
“The victim, a lawyer, reported that he received a call from individuals who first posed as Mumbai Crime Branch officers and later claimed to be CBI officers. They threatened him with legal consequences related to the MDMA parcel. This led the victim to fear arrest, resulting in him transferring the money,” DSP Jadon said.
Police Investigation Underway
Following the lawyer’s complaint, a case was filed with the Gwalior Cyber Crime Branch on November 21. The police have initiated an investigation into the incident, with a cyber expert team examining the details of the fraud.
DSP Jadon stated that further updates would be shared as the investigation progresses.
This scam underscores the growing trend of cyber criminals using impersonation and threats to extort money from victims. Authorities have advised the public to be cautious of such fraudulent calls and verify any claims made by alleged officials before taking action.