Mumbai Retired Officer Loses ₹2.55 Crore To Cyber Scam

A 63-year-old retired Air Force officer from Sion, Mumbai, has become the latest victim of a cyber scam. The officer, Shridhar Atmaram Bari, was targeted by fraudsters who posed as senior police and anti-terror officials. They allegedly threatened him with arrest in a money-laundering and terror-funding case involving transactions worth ₹2.55 crore.

The scam began on August 2, when Bari received a call from an unknown mobile number. The caller introduced himself as Mukesh Kumar from the Palghar Superintendent of Police’s office and connected Bari to a person claiming to be Inspector Vijaykumar. Vijaykumar allegedly told Bari that a money-laundering case had been registered against him and that funds linked to the case had been used for terrorist activities.

The fraudsters claimed that the investigation was being conducted by the Anti-Terrorist Squad headquarters in Lucknow and ordered Bari to appear in Palghar within two hours. They threatened him with arrest if he failed to comply. When Bari said he could not travel to Palghar, the caller connected him to another person posing as Inspector Khanna of the Anti-Terrorist Squad headquarters in Lucknow.

Khanna allegedly told Bari that an ICICI Bank account had been opened in his name in Hubballi-Dharwad, Karnataka, and that transactions amounting to ₹2.55 crore had taken place through the account between January 1 and January 29, 2026. Bari denied having opened any such account. The fraudsters then sent him a PDF containing what appeared to be an NIA logo and a purported Confidentiality Agreement.

The document allegedly warned him against disclosing details of the supposed investigation to anyone. Khanna also instructed Bari to write an application stating that he had not opened the ICICI Bank account and send it through WhatsApp. The following day, another person claiming to be senior officer Premkumar Gautam contacted Bari on a WhatsApp video call.

He allegedly sent a fake debit card bearing Bari’s details and claimed that his Aadhaar card had been used to open the account. Bari was asked to display his Aadhaar card on the video call, which he did. Gautam then allegedly sought details of Bari’s bank accounts and the funds held in them, claiming that the money would be scrutinised and that he would receive a Clearance Certificate if the funds were not linked to money laundering.

However, Bari realised that he was being targeted by fraudsters and refused to transfer any money. He instead approached the police and a case has been registered against the unidentified accused. The case includes charges of impersonating police officials, preparing and sending forged documents, and operating the mobile numbers and WhatsApp accounts used in the scam.

This incident highlights the growing concern of cyber scams in Mumbai, where fraudsters are using fake identities and documents to extort money from unsuspecting victims. The police have warned citizens to be cautious when receiving calls or messages from unknown numbers, especially those claiming to be from law enforcement agencies.

In recent months, there have been several cases of cyber scams reported in Mumbai, with victims losing large sums of money to fraudsters. The police have advised citizens to verify the identity of the caller and to not share personal or financial information with unknown individuals.

The case is currently under investigation, and the police are working to identify the accused and bring them to justice. The incident serves as a reminder for citizens to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

The rise in cyber scams has also led to an increase in awareness campaigns by the police and other organizations, aiming to educate citizens on how to protect themselves from such scams. By being cautious and aware of the tactics used by fraudsters, citizens can help prevent such incidents and stay safe online.

In conclusion, the case of the retired Air Force officer highlights the importance of being vigilant and cautious when dealing with unknown individuals or messages. It is essential for citizens to be aware of the tactics used by fraudsters and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.