In a disturbing incident that highlights the growing menace of cyber frauds, a 22-year-old student pursuing an engineering course at a foreign university fell victim to cybercrooks who manipulated her with threats of implicating her in a “drug courier” case. The student, hailing from Pune, lost a staggering Rs 37 lakh through a series of 20 online transactions that occurred within a span of just five hours.
This incident closely follows another case involving a student pursuing advertising studies, who lost Rs 53.63 lakh to similar tactics employed by cyber fraudsters. These criminals exploited her and her mother, forcing them to make 34 transactions over a span of four hours on July 5. The perpetrators had previously threatened to frame the student in a “drug courier” case.
In the recent case, the victim’s father holds a senior position at an automobile company, and the student utilized funds deposited in her bank account to facilitate her overseas education and living expenses. Pressured by the cybercriminals’ threats of criminal charges, trial, and imprisonment, the student succumbed and initiated the online transfers.
According to Sub-inspector Yashwant Salunkhe of the Hinjewadi police, the student was approached by the fraudsters around 9:15 AM on a Tuesday. Panicking at the prospect of facing a criminal trial, she lodged a complaint with the authorities on the following Wednesday. The criminals, posing as representatives of a renowned courier firm, informed her that an international parcel under her name as the sender had been detained by the customs department in Mumbai.
The cybercriminals then instructed her to communicate with an “inspector from the anti-narcotics cell of the Mumbai police.” This so-called “inspector” concocted a narrative that the parcel contained illicit substances such as synthetic drugs and marijuana, along with a laptop and passport. He manipulated the student into a video call with a fake “DCP-rank officer” and coerced her into sharing sensitive details such as bank account information, Aadhaar card particulars, and passport details.
The fraudulent “officer” took advantage of her fear, informing her that her Aadhaar card had been misused for money laundering and the alleged smuggling. Displaying a fabricated letter from the finance department, he claimed that the document was meant to verify her bank accounts. Subsequently, he demanded a sum of money to supposedly settle the fabricated case. To comply with the demand, the student executed over 20 transactions, transferring funds to an account provided by the criminals.
Upon preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the fraudulent account was linked to a public sector bank’s Kutch branch in Gujarat. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity awareness, vigilance, and reporting such incidents promptly to the relevant authorities.
