44-year-old businessman Tanveer Bhatia from Santacruz found himself ensnared in a scam that cost him Rs7.77 lakh, perpetrated by a con artist posing first as a courier and then as a police officer threatening legal repercussions over alleged drug involvement. The victim promptly filed a case against the unidentified fraudster on April 26th, seeking justice for the fraudulent scheme.The Initial DeceptionThe incident unfolded on April 25th when the fraudster impersonated an employee of a reputable courier company and reached out to Bhatia. Claiming that a parcel containing illicit substances, passports, credit cards, a laptop, and clothing had been dispatched to Thailand under Bhatias name, the con artist effectively set the stage for his scam. To add a layer of legitimacy, the fraudster then transferred the call to someone claiming to be Rakesh Kumar, a Sub-Inspector from the Andheri Cyber Crime branch.The Threatening CharadeUsing coercive tactics, the fraudulent caller accused Bhatia of engaging in illegal transactions and demanded sensitive information, including his Aadhaar card number. When Bhatia expressed a desire to verify the claims by visiting the cybercrime office in person, the con artist swiftly resorted to intimidation, threatening immediate arrest. Employing psychological pressure, the fraudster insisted that Bhatia confirm the allegations via Skype, where the presence of a Mumbai police logo aimed to lend credence to the ruse.Under the guise of imminent arrest and surveillance, the fraudster restricted Bhatia from reaching out to anyone, asserting that both his mobile phone and laptop were being monitored. Adding a layer of false authenticity, the con artist presented what appeared to be an official letter from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). To alleviate the purported legal jeopardy, Bhatia was coerced into transferring a substantial sum of Rs7.77 lakhs to the fraudsters account, under the guise of facilitating an investigation with the promise of reimbursement.Seeking Legal RedressUpon realising the deception upon returning home, Bhatia promptly confided in his father, who recognised the scam for what it was. Subsequently, Bhatia approached the Santacruz police, urging them to take action. The authorities swiftly responded by registering a case under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (pertaining to cheating and dishonesty) and pertinent provisions of the Information Technology Act, initiating a legal pursuit against the fraudulent perpetrator.
