Mumbai Man Loses ₹3.83 Crore to Fake ATS Officers

A 64-year-old retired HDFC Bank operations manager from Juhu, Mumbai, has been allegedly duped of ₹3.83 crore by cyber fraudsters. The fraud began on August 7, when the victim received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as SI Aakash Sharma from the ATS headquarters in Colaba and claimed that an illegal SIM card had been purchased using the complainant's Aadhaar details.

The caller told the complainant that the matter would be investigated by senior officers and asked him to contact another number through WhatsApp. The person on the other end identified himself as Inspector Prem Kumar Gautam from the ATS headquarters in Lucknow. The fraudsters claimed that the complainant's Aadhaar card had been misused to open a bank account in Jammu and Kashmir, through which illegal transactions worth ₹7 crore had been carried out to fund terrorist activities.

They further claimed that a money-laundering case had been registered against him. The accused escalated the threat by telling the complainant that a terrorist named Asif Fauji had been arrested in connection with the case and that his name had emerged during the investigation. He was threatened with immediate arrest along with his family members if he failed to cooperate.

The fraudsters sent him what appeared to be a Supreme Court arrest warrant and a document carrying the Reserve Bank of India's logo, allegedly to convince him that the case was genuine. Fearing arrest, the complainant shared details of his bank accounts and investments with the callers. The accused then told him that the matter could be resolved if he temporarily transferred money from his accounts as part of a purported 'security procedure.'

Under pressure and allegedly believing that the callers were genuine ATS officials, the complainant transferred money to multiple bank accounts between August 12 and August 17. The four transactions included one of ₹1,83,49,250, then ₹60 lakh and two ₹70 lakh transactions. The total amount transferred was ₹3,83,49,250.

After receiving the money, the fraudsters continued contacting the complainant and demanded further transfers, threatening him with arrest if he refused. When he asked for his money to be returned, they gave various excuses and continued demanding more money. The complainant subsequently discussed the matter with his friend, a manager at HDFC Bank, who told him that he had fallen victim to a cyber fraud.

The incident highlights the growing concern of cyber fraud in Mumbai, where scamsters are using fake identities and threatening victims to extort money. The Mumbai police have registered a case and are investigating the matter. The incident serves as a reminder for citizens to be cautious when receiving calls from unknown numbers and to verify the authenticity of the callers before sharing any personal or financial information.

The case also raises questions about the security of Aadhaar details and the ease with which scamsters can misuse them. The government has been taking steps to strengthen the security of Aadhaar data, but more needs to be done to prevent such incidents. The incident is a wake-up call for citizens to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

In recent years, there has been a surge in cyber fraud cases in Mumbai, with scamsters using various tactics to dupe victims. The police have been working to crack down on such cases, but it is a challenging task. The incident highlights the need for citizens to be aware of the risks of cyber fraud and to take steps to protect themselves.

The Mumbai police have advised citizens to be cautious when receiving calls from unknown numbers and to verify the authenticity of the callers before sharing any personal or financial information. They have also advised citizens to report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

In conclusion, the incident is a reminder of the growing concern of cyber fraud in Mumbai and the need for citizens to be vigilant and cautious when receiving calls from unknown numbers. It is essential for citizens to verify the authenticity of the callers and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.