Pune woman scammed, forced to strip on camera, loses Rs 14 lakh

Pune Woman fell victim to a cyber scam

A 28-year-old Pune woman fell victim to a cyber scam where the cyber criminals, in a scheme involving drugs in parcels, tricked her into believing her account was linked to terrorism. They coerced her into undressing on camera, pretending it was for police identification of a mole. This deception cost her a devastating Rs 14 lakh.

A few weeks back, the Pune woman received a call from people posing as courier service agents, kicking off a deceit. They spun a tale about a package she allegedly sent to Taiwan with expired passports and a substantial drug stash. Despite her firm denials and insistence on never sending such a parcel, they relentlessly pursued their fraudulent narrative.

The scam took a darker turn when the Pune woman started getting calls from individuals pretending to be Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officers. These imposters hurled baseless accusations, alleging her bank account’s involvement in terrorist affairs.

To supposedly redeem herself (Pune Woman), they pressured her into transferring all her savings to so-called “government beneficiary” accounts, which, unbeknownst to her, were just tools of the fraudsters’ deception. It’s a distressing reminder of how vulnerable we can be to such manipulative schemes. The nightmare didn’t end there. In a desperate bid to extract more money, the scammers pushed the woman to sit before a camera and undress, citing a fake police inquiry.

They deceitfully claimed they needed to inspect her moles and birthmarks for identification purposes. Despite the immense humiliation and financial hit, she eventually saw through their lies and courageously sought help from the Vimantal police station to file a First Information Report (FIR). It’s a testament to her strength and resilience in the face of such adversity.

Inspector in charge  Sarjerao Kumbhar of the Airport police said,”The victim, a resident of Lohegaon, told us that the caller posing as ‘NCB officer’ forced her to disrobe on a video call for a ‘physical verification’ after claiming that they suspected her of ‘money laundering and terror links’, we will send emails to the banks, cell phone companies and video call app for details of the financial transactions and communication. We will investigate the matter further based on the details received.”

The Pune police are taking this case very seriously, delving into it with great diligence. Apart from invoking cybercrime charges under the Information Technology Act, they’ve also included Section 354B of the Indian Penal Code. This section specifically addresses assaults or forceful acts aimed at disrobing a woman, showcasing their commitment to seeking justice and ensuring the safety of women in such distressing situations.

This serves as a poignant reminder to stay vigilant against unexpected calls and messages, especially those alleging legal matters or demanding immediate action. Genuine law enforcement agencies never request money or personal details over the phone. If you encounter a suspicious call, it’s wise to end the conversation and directly reach out to the relevant authorities on your own. It’s a small but crucial step in safeguarding yourself and others from potential scams and hardships.

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