Elderly Srinagar Couple Loses Rs 48 Lakh to Imposters Posing as CBI Officials – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: An elderly couple from Srinagar has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing Rs 48 lakh after being duped by impostors posing as officials of central investigative and regulatory agencies.

According to the Crime Branch, Jammu and Kashmir, the fraudsters first contacted the couple through a WhatsApp video call, falsely identifying themselves as officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation. They later claimed affiliation with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, alleging that the couple was under investigation for a major financial fraud.

To intimidate the victims, the scammers shared forged documents purportedly issued by the CBI and TRAI. They threatened to freeze the couple’s bank accounts and seize their property, creating a climate of fear and urgency.

Investigators said the victims were subjected to continuous video monitoring for several days and were instructed not to leave their residence without permission. The prolonged surveillance and psychological pressure ultimately compelled the couple to transfer Rs 48 lakh to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence of the Crime Branch has reiterated that there is no provision such as a “digital arrest” under Indian law. It has advised the public to immediately recognise such calls as fraudulent and report them without delay.

Authorities have urged citizens to report cyber fraud incidents through the national helpline 1930 or via the cyber crime reporting portal. The Crime Branch noted that senior citizens, particularly those living alone while their children are employed outside the region, remain a primary target of such scams and has called for heightened public awareness and vigilance.