'You Are Spying For Pakistan': Cyber Fraudsters Con Mumbai Woman of ₹22.4 Lakh

Mumbai: A 64-year-old woman from Mumbai was duped of Rs 22.4 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as officials from the Delhi Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Claiming she was under investigation for spying for Pakistan, the fraudsters used threats of imprisonment and hefty fines to extort money. This is likely the first recorded case where espionage allegations were used as a pretext to commit cyber fraud.

The woman, terrified by claims of legal action and national security charges, received calls from individuals identifying themselves as ‘Inspector Prem Kumar Gupta’ of the Delhi ATS and officials from the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Border Police Station’. They informed her of a fake case filed against her for allegedly sharing sensitive national information with Pakistan. The scammers even sent her forged ID cards via WhatsApp to establish their credibility.

The fraudsters threatened the woman with a Rs 50 lakh fine and 10 years’ imprisonment, stating that she was under surveillance. Out of fear and confusion, the woman made several bank transfers totalling Rs 22.4 lakh to different accounts between June 6 and 10, reported Lokmat Times.

Upon realising she had been scammed, she reported the incident to the South Cyber Police Station on June 13. An FIR was filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Police are currently tracing the mobile numbers and bank accounts used in the fraud.

Mumbai Man Duped Of ₹1.07 Crore In Cyber Fraud Over Cheap Flat Deal

In a separate incident, a 43-year-old man from Mumbai’s Dadar area lost Rs 1.07 crore to cybercriminals in a fake real estate scam. The victim was lured with promises of a low-cost flat in Mumbai through a fraudulent Facebook page. The Mumbai Cyber Cell arrested the main accused, Sanyam Devmani Pandey, from Badlapur East.

According to the police, Pandey executed 215 separate transactions with the victim between November 2018 and November 2024, under various false pretenses. Cops believe there may be more victims of the same scam and have expanded the investigation.