A senior citizen in Mumbai has fallen victim to a cyber fraud scheme, losing Rs 64 lakh. The incident began when the victim, who had purchased a life insurance policy in 2011, was contacted by an individual claiming to be Deepak Rathi from an insurance company. This impersonator lured the victim with promises of activating his lapsed policy, which had been closed due to unpaid premiums.
The fraud escalated when another individual, posing as a representative from the Enforcement Directorate, threatened the victim. He claimed that the victim’s funds had been linked to a terrorist organization and warned of a ‘digital arrest’ if the money was not transferred. The victim complied, resulting in a total loss of Rs 64 lakh.
The victim said he purchased four Birla Sun Life Insurance policies in September 2011 through a person identified as Pawar, after being contacted by a woman named Neha Bajaj, according to the FIR registered with the East Region Cyber police. From 2023 to 2026, a person identified as Lakhotia and another person using the name Iyer allegedly threatened him with action by the Enforcement Directorate, police and other govt agencies. The policies were subsequently closed after he was unable to continue paying the premiums. The accused allegedly obtained his banking, PAN and Aadhaar details and those of his wife and continued demanding money.