A 33-year-old woman from Chandivali, Powai, endured a harrowing ordeal after falling prey to an elaborate cyber scam that robbed her of Rs. 26.33 lakh. The fraud, orchestrated with chilling precision, preyed on her trust and fear by impersonating prominent officials, including a fake representation of former Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud.
The nightmare began on October 5 with a seemingly ordinary call. A person claiming to represent the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) warned her that her phone number was implicated in sending threatening messages. What followed was a relentless cascade of deceitful calls from individuals posing as officers from the Cyber Crime Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The woman was soon caught in a web of lies that escalated with a bogus “digital arrest order.” Claiming she was under investigation for alleged connections to a money laundering case involving Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, the fraudsters instructed her to isolate herself for seven days and maintain absolute secrecy.
The pressure mounted as she was falsely informed that her bank accounts were under scrutiny and implicated in criminal activities. Posing as police officials, the scammers insisted that compliance was her only way to avoid severe legal consequences. This psychological manipulation intensified with video calls from a fabricated CBI officer, "Akash Kulhad," who coerced her into transferring Rs. 23 lakh to a supposed “Secret Supervision Account” under the guise of protecting her funds during the investigation. She was assured that the money would be returned once her innocence was proven.
The scam’s audacity reached new heights when the fraudsters staged a fake Supreme Court hearing, complete with a phony audio recording presented as “evidence.” They impersonated Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, further cementing their elaborate ruse. Under this guise, they demanded an additional Rs. 23 lakh. Succumbing to the intense psychological pressure, she transferred another Rs. 3.33 lakh before a nagging sense of doubt compelled her to stop further payments.
Her worst fears were confirmed when attempts to contact the fraudsters on October 15 went unanswered. Realizing the cruel betrayal, she immediately filed an online complaint with the Bandra Kurla Complex Cyber Police Station. The police have since registered a case of cheating and impersonation against the unidentified culprits.
This ordeal underscores the devastating impact of cybercrime, reminding us how fear and trust can be weaponized. It serves as a cautionary tale to remain vigilant, question authority when it seems dubious, and seek help immediately when confronted with suspicious claims.
