Elderly couple duped of Rs 2.5 crore in Chandigarh, kept under digital arrest for 15 days
The caller introduced himself as a CBI officer from Mumbai and claimed that the victim's bank account had been used in crimes such as drug trafficking and money laundering.
PTC News Desk: An elderly couple was allegedly defrauded of Rs 2.5 crore and kept under digital arrest for 15 days in Chandigarh. The fraudsters posed as CBI officers and threatened the couple with arrest and legal action.
According to cyber police, the retired bank employee received a phone call around two weeks ago. The caller introduced himself as a CBI officer from Mumbai and claimed that the victim's bank account had been used in crimes such as drug trafficking and money laundering. The fraudsters warned that strict action could be taken against him and that he could even be arrested.
The accused also instructed the couple not to inform any relatives, friends, or neighbours about the matter. They threatened immediate legal action if they disclosed the information to anyone. Fearing arrest, the couple fell completely into the scammers' trap.
The fraudsters then convinced them to transfer money under the pretext of avoiding investigation and legal proceedings. Initially, cash kept at home was transferred to various accounts through RTGS and other banking channels. Later, the couple even borrowed money from relatives and deposited it into the accounts provided by the fraudsters.
When their available funds were exhausted, the scammers allegedly told them to sell their gold jewellery. The couple sold their ornaments and transferred the proceeds as well. Within just 15 days, more than ₹2.15 crore had been sent to the accused.
The fraud finally came to light when the scammers pressured the couple to mortgage their house documents and take a bank loan, demanding that amount too be transferred. Having already lost their savings and gold, the couple refused. Following this, the fraudsters stopped contacting them.
Once communication ceased, the couple realised they had likely been cheated. They informed their family members and lodged a complaint with the cyber police. Authorities have registered a case and launched an investigation into the bank accounts, mobile numbers, and digital transactions involved.
Police said the couple's son lives outside the city for work, and the elderly pair were living alone in Chandigarh. The scammers allegedly exploited their isolation, continuously intimidating them and using psychological pressure to carry out the massive fraud.