A 68-year-old woman residing in the western suburbs of Mumbai was recently defrauded of ₹3.8 crore in a sophisticated scam involving a fake "e-trial" presided over by an individual impersonating Justice DY Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India. The elaborate scheme, which began on August 18th, highlights the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals and the vulnerability of individuals to digital deception.
The woman's ordeal began when she received a call from someone claiming to be from the "Colaba police station," who informed her that her bank account was linked to a ₹6 crore money laundering case. Despite her denial of operating such an account, the caller assigned her a "case number" and provided a letter detailing the alleged charges. To "prove" her innocence, she was further entangled in the scam.
The fraudsters then orchestrated a mock virtual court hearing, featuring an individual impersonating Justice Chandrachud. This tactic aimed to create an illusion of legitimacy and intimidate the victim into complying with their demands. Reports indicate that scammers are increasingly using deepfakes and other advanced technologies to impersonate high-ranking officials, including judges and law enforcement officers, to deceive victims.
This incident is not isolated. In a similar case, a textile baron and Chairman of the Vardhman Group, S.P. Oswal, was allegedly defrauded of ₹7 crore by cybercriminals who staged a fake Supreme Court hearing with an impersonator of CJI DY Chandrachud. Earlier in October 2024, an elderly man in Ahmedabad lost ₹1.26 crore after scammers used Justice Chandrachud's photograph as their display picture (DP) on WhatsApp and posed as top officials. These cases highlight a disturbing trend of scammers leveraging the authority and credibility of prominent figures to manipulate victims.
In November 2024, a 77-year-old woman from Mumbai was also duped of ₹3.8 crore in a "digital arrest" scam, which lasted for a month. The scammers, posing as police officers, claimed that a parcel she allegedly sent to Taiwan contained incriminating items, including passports, drugs, and a bank card. She was then kept on a call for 24 hours and threatened if the call was disconnected. She was instructed to download Skype and communicate with a man claiming to be an IPS officer.
These "digital arrest" scams often involve isolating victims, monitoring them through video calls, and pressuring them into transferring funds under the guise of investigations or verifications. The victims are often threatened with arrest or imprisonment if they do not comply.
Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution and vigilance when receiving unsolicited calls or messages from individuals claiming to be law enforcement or government officials. It is crucial to verify the identity of the caller and to refrain from sharing personal or financial information. If you or someone you know has been a victim of cybercrime, report it to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or call 1930.
The rise in these sophisticated scams underscores the need for increased public awareness and education on cybersecurity threats. It also highlights the importance of robust law enforcement measures to combat cybercrime and protect vulnerable individuals from falling victim to these deceptive schemes.
