BENGALURU: In yet another alarming case of digital fraud, a 39-year-old software engineer from GKVK Layout, near Hebbal, Bengaluru, lost Rs 11.8 crore to scammers posing as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the police.

The fraudsters alleged that his Aadhaar number had been misused for illegal activities, including money laundering, and coerced him into transferring money to multiple accounts under the guise of "verification." The victim, fearing arrest, complied with their demands between November 25 and December 12, before realising the scam and approaching the police.

How Did He Lose Rs 11.8 Crore?

On November 11, the victim received a call from the number 8791120931. The caller introduced himself as a TRAI officer and claimed that a SIM card registered in the victim’s name was being misused for illegal advertisements and harassment messages. He further alleged that the victim’s Aadhaar number was involved and that a case had been registered at the Colaba Cyber Police Station in Mumbai.

Subsequently, the victim received another call from a different number, 7420928275, this time from a fraudster posing as a police officer. The scammer claimed that the victim’s Aadhaar had been used to open bank accounts involved in money laundering. The caller warned him against disclosing the matter to anyone, including his family, and threatened arrest if he did not cooperate.

The fraud escalated when the victim received a third call from 9997342801, during which he was instructed to download the Skype app. During a video call, a person dressed in police uniform, claiming to be from Mumbai Police, alleged that the victim’s Aadhaar was used by businessman Naresh Goyal to open an account at Canara Bank and conduct transactions worth Rs6 crore.

Investigation Conducted Through A Skype Call

On November 25, another fraudster posing as a police officer contacted the victim via Skype. He falsely claimed that the case was being heard in the Supreme Court and threatened to arrest the victim’s family members if he did not comply. The fraudsters insisted that, as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, the victim needed to transfer funds to specific accounts for "verification," assuring him that the money would be returned.

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Fearing legal trouble, the victim transferred Rs75 lakh to one account and Rs3.41 crore to another. By December 12, he had transferred approximately Rs11.8 crore to various accounts provided by the scammers. When the demands for more money continued, the victim realised he had been defrauded and reported the matter to the police.

Investigation Underway

A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 318 (cheating) and Section 319 (cheating by impersonation). Police termed the amount lost as one of the largest in such digital fraud cases and have begun investigations to trace the culprits.

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This incident highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud and the importance of verifying claims made by unknown callers, particularly those posing as officials.