Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) [India]: In a shocking case of cybercrime, the Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Thatipur, Gwalior, lost a staggering ₹2.5 crore to online fraudsters who impersonated police officers over WhatsApp, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Niranjan Sharma, the victim was targeted by cybercriminals posing as officers from the Nashik Police. They first contacted him on March 17 via WhatsApp video call, claiming his name had surfaced in a money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
“The cybercriminals claimed that a summons had been issued in his name and threatened arrest. They then manipulated him into sharing his Aadhaar details and bank account information under the pretext of verification,” said ASP Sharma.
Over the course of nearly 20 days, the fraudsters maintained constant communication, coercing the victim to cooperate under psychological pressure. They promised help and non-arrest if he agreed to transfer money as a “refundable bail amount.” Falling for the ruse, the victim transferred ₹2.5 crore to multiple bank accounts.
“A case has been registered under relevant sections, and an investigation is underway. We are working to identify and arrest the accused,” Sharma added.
The ASP clarified that this case falls under the category of cyber fraud, but not “digital arrest” as the victim was not held physically or forcibly confined during the course of the scam.
The incident underscores the increasing sophistication of cyber frauds and the urgent need for digital literacy and vigilance, even among well-established institutions.