Doctor Duped of Rs 23 Lakh in Fake Trafficking Case by Fraudsters Posing as Government Officials

In a shocking fraud incident, a female doctor from Pimpri Chinchwad was scammed out of nearly Rs 23 lakh by a group of impostors posing as high-ranking officials from various government agencies. Exploiting her fear with false accusations of human trafficking, the scammers deceived her into transferring the hefty sum, leaving her distressed and seeking justice. The crime unfolded last month and has since been reported to the authorities, who are now actively investigating.

The victim, a doctor affiliated with Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre in Pimpri, reported the scam at the Sant Tukaram Nagar Police Station. The accused have been identified as Sumit Singh, who posed as an official from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI); Rakesh Kumar, who claimed to be a Cyber Cell officer; and Mohit Raina, who pretended to be from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Detailed Breakdown of the Deceptive Scheme

According to police, the ordeal began when the doctor received a call on Telegram. The caller, posing as a TRAI representative, claimed her phone number was implicated in a human trafficking and kidnapping case. To intensify the situation, he provided a fake FIR number, alarming her with the severity of the charges. The caller then connected her to supposed officers from the Cyber Cell and CBI, who continued to pressure her with threats of arrest.

Frightened by the accusations, the doctor was coerced into transferring Rs 22.85 lakh via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) to the accounts specified by the scammers. She realized she had been deceived only after making the transfer, prompting her to file a formal complaint.

Police Investigation and Legal Action

Following her report, Sant Tukaram Nagar Police Station registered the case, charging the accused under Sections 318 (4) and 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating and conspiracy, along with applicable sections of the Information Technology Act of 2000. Senior Police Inspector Gorakh Kumbhar is leading the investigation, with efforts focused on tracking down the accused and retrieving the lost funds.

Public Advisory for Increased Caution

This case serves as a crucial reminder of the tactics scammers use to manipulate and exploit victims. Authorities have advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid responding to unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be government representatives, especially if pressured to transfer money under threats of fabricated charges.