Mumbai Cyber Crime: 77-Year-Old Mahim Teacher Duped Of ₹76.5 Lakh By Fraudsters; Case Registered

Mumbai: In a shocking case of cybercrime with a personal twist, a 77-year-old retired teacher from Mahim lost Rs 76.5 lakh to fraudsters posing as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Unusually, the scammers not only convinced the victim over calls but also arranged for cash collection in person marking one of the first such cases, police say. The Central Cyber Police registered a case of extortion and forgery against unidentified persons on Tuesday, according to Hindustan Times report.

According to police, the fraud began in October 2024 and continued for nearly six months. It started with a call from someone pretending to be a TRAI officer, who falsely claimed the victim’s mobile number, Aadhaar, and PAN were linked to money laundering. Shortly after, another caller, posing as a CBI official, said her family particularly her daughters could face legal trouble.

To add to the deception, a third fraudster claimed to be IPS officer Navjot Simi. She questioned the senior citizen about her finances and pressured her to transfer Rs 13 lakh to various bank accounts in November. In January 2025, ‘Simi’ again asked for Rs 1 crore to "close the case," saying it would be returned post-audit. When the victim explained she couldn’t arrange the full amount, the fraudsters demanded Rs 65 lakh for “verification.”

Out of fear, the woman emptied her savings, broke fixed deposits, and liquidated her demat account. On February 5, she met a masked woman near the MHADA office in Kalanagar and handed over ₹63.5 lakh in person after being told to appear alone on a video call. She later received false assurances that her money would be returned by April 5, but the fraudsters disappeared, as per reports.

The Central Cyber Police have filed a case against unidentified individuals under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including 308(2) (extortion), 318(4) (cheating), 319(2) (cheating by impersonation), 336(2) (forgery), and 204 (impersonating a public servant).