Mumbai: In a chilling case of impersonation and blackmail, a businessman from Malabar Hill fell victim to a group of four individuals who posed as cyber crime officers and attempted to extort ₹5 lakh by falsely accusing him of involvement in a minor abuse case.
The incident came to light after the 32-year-old complainant, who resides in the upscale Nepeansea Road area, received a phone call on June 20 from three individuals claiming to be officers from the Kasara Cyber Police Station. They alleged that a complaint had been lodged against him for "receiving massages from minors" and threatened him with imminent arrest.
Terrified and confused, the businessman denied the allegation. However, the callers allegedly pressured him to pay ₹5 lakh to "settle" the case discreetly. When he expressed his inability to pay the full amount, they agreed to take ₹1 lakh as an initial payment.
Despite complying, the harassment continued. Sensing foul play, the businessman approached Malabar Hill Police and lodged a formal complaint. Investigators soon discovered that one of the accused was known to the complainant.
An FIR was filed against all four accused for extortion and impersonation. Police have identified the main accused, a 32-year-old man, and are now tracking his accomplices believed to be part of the same extortion racket. Further investigation is underway.
