A couple from south Mumbai, who were previously employed by corporate houses, lost over Rs 4 crore in a cyber fraud. The wife received a call from someone claiming to be from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, providing personal information to gain trust. The caller then convinced the couple to transfer money for various reasons, using multiple bank accounts. When the couple ran out of money, the caller threatened them with freezing their payments and involvement of the I-T department. The couple filed an FIR after their accounts were emptied.
Photo/ Agencies
MUMBAI: A septuagenarian couple from south Mumbai , who were previously employed with leading corporate houses, lost more than Rs 4 crore within four months in a cyber fraud .
The wife told Cuffe Parade police that she had first received a call from a woman who claimed she was calling from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation . "The caller even gave the name of the company where the complainant's husband earlier worked, as well as his PAN card number and retirement details.This is how they gained the complainant's trust," said police. "The caller told the complainant that her husband's company had kept Rs 4 lakh in provident fund for investment, which had matured after 20 years and he is now entitled to receive Rs 11 crore." The woman then asked her to transfer money for payment of TDS, GST, and income tax. The FIR was filed Tuesday after the couple's accounts in a private bank were emptied.
Over a period of time, the caller demanded money from the complainant for different reasons, and the complainant kept sending money to the bank accounts provided by the caller. "The accused used over a dozen bank accounts to receive the Rs 4 crore," said the officer.
The couple's accounts emptied in four months. "When the complainant told the caller that they don't have any money left, the latter began threatening them. The caller said that the amount they'd paid would be frozen and the I-T department would come knocking at their door," the officer added.
The wife told Cuffe Parade police that she had first received a call from a woman who claimed she was calling from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation . "The caller even gave the name of the company where the complainant's husband earlier worked, as well as his PAN card number and retirement details.This is how they gained the complainant's trust," said police. "The caller told the complainant that her husband's company had kept Rs 4 lakh in provident fund for investment, which had matured after 20 years and he is now entitled to receive Rs 11 crore." The woman then asked her to transfer money for payment of TDS, GST, and income tax. The FIR was filed Tuesday after the couple's accounts in a private bank were emptied.
Over a period of time, the caller demanded money from the complainant for different reasons, and the complainant kept sending money to the bank accounts provided by the caller. "The accused used over a dozen bank accounts to receive the Rs 4 crore," said the officer.
The couple's accounts emptied in four months. "When the complainant told the caller that they don't have any money left, the latter began threatening them. The caller said that the amount they'd paid would be frozen and the I-T department would come knocking at their door," the officer added.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
