Mumbai: Retired IT Official Loses ₹8.51 Lakh to Fake NIA Scam

A 66-year-old retired Income Tax Department employee from Worli, Mumbai, was allegedly duped of ₹8.51 lakh by cyber fraudsters who posed as National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers. The scammers threatened to arrest him in connection with a fabricated criminal case.

The complainant, Hemant Vasant Warlikar, received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown mobile number on September 5. The person on the other end claimed to be an NIA officer named Sandeep Roy and told Warlikar that a complaint had been registered against him. The accused allegedly used Warlikar's Aadhaar card details to obtain a PAN card and deposit money into another bank account.

Warlikar was told that the complaint was serious and could result in imprisonment for six months to one year. He then received another call from an unknown number, where the caller identified himself as Suraj Jaiswar and told him that he would have to go to jail unless he deposited money to rectify the matter.

Fearing arrest, Warlikar transferred ₹4.51 lakh on September 8 through RTGS from his Income Tax Department Co-operative Bank account to an Indian Post Payments Bank account allegedly belonging to Sanjay Basfore of New Delhi. On September 10, he transferred another ₹4 lakh through RTGS from the same account to a Jammu and Kashmir Gramin Bank account held by Aditya Singh, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir.

Warlikar subsequently realised that he had been duped and approached the cybercrime helpline 1930 as well as the Dadar police. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.

The Dadar police have launched an investigation into the fraud and are tracing the accused and the money trail. The case highlights the increasing number of cyber frauds in Mumbai, where scammers are using fake identities and threats to dupe unsuspecting citizens.

The Mumbai police have advised citizens to be cautious when receiving calls from unknown numbers and to verify the identity of the caller before taking any action. They have also urged citizens to report any suspicious activity to the cybercrime helpline 1930.

The case is a reminder of the importance of being vigilant and cautious when dealing with unknown individuals, especially when it comes to financial transactions. The police are working to prevent such scams and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cyber frauds in Mumbai, with many citizens losing large amounts of money to scammers. The police are working to raise awareness about the dangers of cyber fraud and to educate citizens on how to protect themselves.

The case of Hemant Vasant Warlikar is a stark reminder of the need for citizens to be cautious and vigilant when dealing with unknown individuals, especially when it comes to financial transactions. The police are working to prevent such scams and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, and the police are working to trace the accused and recover the lost amount. The case highlights the importance of being cautious and vigilant when dealing with unknown individuals, especially when it comes to financial transactions.

In conclusion, the case of Hemant Vasant Warlikar is a reminder of the importance of being cautious and vigilant when dealing with unknown individuals, especially when it comes to financial transactions. The police are working to prevent such scams and to bring the perpetrators to justice.