Retired IAF Officer Duped of ₹1 Crore
In a spine-chilling case of cybercrime from Greater Noida’s Jewar, a 59-year-old retired Indian Air Force officer was swindled out of a staggering ₹1 crore after being digitally “arrested” by fraudsters for 23 days. The elaborate scam unfolded like a high-stakes thriller and the victim didn’t realise he’d been duped until he approached the police himself.
Retired IAF Officer Duped of ₹1 Crore
According to officials, the ordeal began on May 17 when the victim received a seemingly official call from someone claiming to be a representative of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller falsely accused him of being involved in a money laundering case, alleging that his Aadhaar and mobile number were linked to the suspicious activity supposedly flagged by the Finance Ministry.
Retired IAF Officer Duped of ₹1 Crore
The call was then transferred to another impersonator, this time posing as a senior officer from the Mumbai Police. The victim was threatened with immediate arrest, and a series of fake legal documents were sent to him as “evidence.”
“Under the pretext of an investigation, they placed him under what they called a ‘digital arrest’ essentially isolating him from all communication,” said Cyber Crime Branch Station House Officer Ranjeet Singh. “He was so frightened, he didn’t inform even his father.”
Retired IAF Officer Duped of ₹1 Crore
In a series of six bank transactions, the terrified veteran handed over more than ₹1 crore, his entire savings while being misled that the money would be returned after a so-called investigation. When the fraudsters pushed for more money, the officer finally reached out to his local police station to retrieve the promised funds but there he realised he had been trapped in a scam.
He then reported the crime to the Cyber Crime Branch in Sector 36. Authorities have since registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act.
Retired IAF Officer Duped of ₹1 Crore
“The investigation is on, and we are doing everything possible to recover his money,” assured SHO Singh.
This disturbing case is a stark reminder of the increasing sophistication of cyber scams and the psychological manipulation involved.
