WOMAN CONNED OF ₹2.7 LAKH BY FRAUDSTER POSING AS DCP

MUMBAI: A 53-year-old woman lost approximately ₹2.73 lakh to a cyber fraudster who posed as encounter specialist, DCP Pradeep Sawant, to cheat her. Police reports indicate that the accused informed the woman that her documents had been utilised in a money laundering and drug trafficking scheme to open bank accounts and transfer ill-gotten money.

According to the MRA Marg police, a case has been registered based on a complaint lodged by the 53-year-old woman who works with a transport company in Fort. The woman is a resident of Andheri.

“On April 18, she got a call from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as DCP Pradeep Sawant who works with the cyber department. He told her that while investigating a bank fraud case her name had cropped up as some bank accounts used in a drugs case for money laundering were in her name,” said a police officer from MRA Marg police station.

The caller also sent her a man’s photo, asking if she knew him. He then told her that the man in the photo was one of the accused in the drug case. The complainant replied in the negative, as she did not know the person.

The fake police officer directed the woman to create a Skype account for communication, then instructed her to transfer funds to specified bank accounts to verify their authenticity. Assured of reimbursement, she transferred ₹2.73 lakh in three transactions. When she inquired about refunds, excuses were given, and individuals handling her calls claimed the DCP was occupied. Realising she was deceived, she sought police assistance. A case has been filed under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and various sections of the Information Technology Act against unknown perpetrators.

The police stated that Sawant retired upon reaching the age of superannuation. Earlier, using a similar modus, the frauds had duped people by using senior IPS officer Milind Bharambe’s name.