Northeast Desk, 9th July: In a distressing incident, a resident of New Market, whose identity remains undisclosed, has fallen victim to a fraudulent phone scam, resulting in a staggering loss of Rs 11 lakh. The unfortunate sequence of events unfolded when the victim received a call on June 23, purportedly from a Mumbai Crime Branch police officer. The caller falsely accused the victim’s husband of engaging in fraudulent transactions through her Canara Bank account, threatening imminent arrest unless a settlement was promptly paid.
Fearful and under duress, the victim transferred a total of Rs 11 lakh in two transactions to accounts held at DBS Bank and Indusind Bank, as instructed by the scammer. Realizing the deception shortly thereafter, the victim promptly lodged a complaint at the Sadar Police Station, resulting in the registration of FIR No. 93/2024.
The case has been filed under sections 384 (extortion), 419 (impersonation), and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. Sub-Inspector Taman Raj Gurung has taken charge of the investigation, focusing efforts on apprehending the perpetrators and recovering the lost funds.
This alarming incident underscores the increasing threat posed by phone scams and serves as a stark reminder for the public to exercise utmost caution. Authorities urge citizens to validate the authenticity of any unexpected calls, especially those involving financial transactions, and to promptly report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
Stay vigilant and stay safe against such fraudulent schemes.
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