Music teacher loses 8.2L to bogus central govt officers

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Pune: A 32-year-old music teacher was duped of Rs 8.2 lakh by conmen who posed as officials from the Trai and the CBI. According to the police, the complainant was informed by the suspects over the phone that her cellphone number has surfaced in cases of human trafficking and kidnapping.

She was also informed that a case was registered against her in Mumbai. The woman, in order to avoid getting into legal trouble, was asked to pay money which she did between Oct 14 and 18. A complaint was lodged with the Ravet police on Wednesday.



Senior inspector Nitin Phatangare of the Ravet police station told TOI that the woman received a call from an unknown number on Oct 14. The caller, who posed as a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) official, told the woman that her cellphone number would soon be discontinued. "The caller also informed the woman that her personal information was being misused and a case was registered against her in Mumbai," Phatangare said.

The officer said the caller even shared a fake copy of the FIR with the woman. "The caller told the woman that a businessman was involved in human trafficking and money laundering. He then transferred the call to another suspect who claimed to be an official from the Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI)," he said.

Phatangare said the woman was asked to download a mobile application. He also told the complainant that she too was involved in the crime with the businessman and she might have to face death penalty. "The suspect then assured to help the woman and asked her to share her bank details," he said.

"The terrified woman transferred Rs 8.2 lakh to the different bank account numbers provided to her," the officer said. Phatangare said that the suspects also "digitally arrested" the woman.

"The terrified woman did not inform her husband about it. She realised about the con only after the suspects stopped contacting her. She then approached the police," he said.

Pune: A 32-year-old music teacher was duped of Rs 8.2 lakh by conmen who posed as officials from the Trai and the CBI. According to the police, the complainant was informed by the suspects over the phone that her cellphone number has surfaced in cases of human trafficking and kidnapping.

She was also informed that a case was registered against her in Mumbai. The woman, in order to avoid getting into legal trouble, was asked to pay money which she did between Oct 14 and 18. A complaint was lodged with the Ravet police on Wednesday.

Senior inspector Nitin Phatangare of the Ravet police station told TOI that the woman received a call from an unknown number on Oct 14. The caller, who posed as a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) official, told the woman that her cellphone number would soon be discontinued. "The caller also informed the woman that her personal information was being misused and a case was registered against her in Mumbai," Phatangare said.

The officer said the caller even shared a fake copy of the FIR with the woman. "The caller told the woman that a businessman was involved in human trafficking and money laundering. He then transferred the call to another suspect who claimed to be an official from the Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI)," he said.

Phatangare said the woman was asked to download a mobile application. He also told the complainant that she too was involved in the crime with the businessman and she might have to face death penalty. "The suspect then assured to help the woman and asked her to share her bank details," he said.

"The terrified woman transferred Rs 8.2 lakh to the different bank account numbers provided to her," the officer said. Phatangare said that the suspects also "digitally arrested" the woman.

"The terrified woman did not inform her husband about it. She realised about the con only after the suspects stopped contacting her. She then approached the police," he said.

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