Kannur: Fraudsters contacted the victim via WhatsApp, impersonating officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Mumbai. They used this false identity to instill fear in the victim by falsely claiming that her name was linked to serious criminal cases involving money laundering and human trafficking. The scammers leveraged this intimidation, coercing her into believing she would face severe legal consequences unless immediate action was taken. To further exploit the victim’s fear, they demanded money on multiple occasions, falsely promising to “settle” the case and prevent further legal complications.
Over the course of seven days, the victim, under immense pressure and fearing legal repercussions, transferred a total of Rs. 1,65,83,200 to various bank accounts as directed by the scammers. Despite making these payments, the victim grew suspicious when communication from the fraudsters suddenly ceased. She stopped receiving messages, and attempts to contact them went unanswered. It was at this point that she realized she had fallen victim to a well-orchestrated scam.
Following this realization, the victim lodged a formal complaint with the Kannur City Cyber Police. Upon receiving the complaint, the cybercrime unit promptly registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident, aiming to track down the fraudsters and recover the stolen funds.
In cases of online financial fraud, time is of the essence. It is critically important to report such incidents within the first hour, often referred to as the “Golden Hour.” Quick action significantly increases the chances of tracing and recovering the lost funds. Victims of online fraud are encouraged to immediately report such incidents by calling the helpline number 1930. Additionally, complaints can be filed through the official website www.cybercrime.gov.in, which is designed to assist victims of cybercrime in taking swift action.
