A 49-year-old woman scientist working with Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science (IISc) fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud and lost Rs 8.8 lakh to a fraudster who posed as an officer of the Central Bureau of Investigation, the police said.
Although the crime began on September 16, it came to light last week after the scientist filed a police complaint. According to the police, the scientist received a video call saying that she had been implicated in 17 criminal cases involving human trafficking. The caller claimed that the scientist’s mobile number had been used for criminal activities under CBI investigation, creating immediate panic and fear.
The fraudster displayed fabricated documents, including a fake arrest warrant supposedly authorised by the Supreme Court. He threatened imminent arrest while simultaneously offering assistance, convincing the woman to transfer Rs 8.8 lakh online between September 17 and 19.
The fraud was exposed when the scientist discussed the matter with her family members, who urged her to contact authorities. Based on her complaint, the Central Division cybercrime police registered a case against unknown people under the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 318 (cheating and fraudulently inducing property delivery) on September 24.
“We are ascertaining from where the call originated and we will be able to get details only later. However, as the professor approached the police late, it would be tough to recover the money,” a police officer said.