Jabalpur: A 66-year-old retired Indian Railways employee has allegedly been cheated out of ₹74.4 lakh in a sophisticated cyber fraud in which scammers posed as government pension officials and convinced him to transfer his retirement savings under the pretext of a pension verification process.

The Madhya Pradesh Cyber Police have launched an investigation to trace the money trail and identify the fraudsters, who allegedly routed the stolen funds through multiple bank accounts across different states.

Fraudsters Posed as Pension Officials

According to investigators, the victim received a phone call from individuals claiming to represent a government pension department. The callers falsely informed him that discrepancies had been found in his pension records and Aadhaar details, warning that his pension payments could be suspended if the issue was not resolved immediately.

To increase pressure, the fraudsters allegedly claimed that the retiree’s bank accounts were linked to a money laundering investigation involving an international criminal network. They assured him that transferring his money into a so-called “government verification account” was necessary to safeguard his savings and complete the verification process.

Investigators say the victim was instructed to remain on the phone throughout the process and was repeatedly told not to contact family members or bank officials until the verification was complete.

Retirement Savings Transferred in Multiple Transactions

Believing the callers were genuine government officials, the retired employee liquidated his fixed deposits and transferred a total of ₹74.40 lakh through multiple online transactions to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.

The scam came to light only after the victim later visited his bank to inquire about the verification process and learned that the money had been transferred to fraudulent accounts with no connection to any government agency.

Cyber Police Tracking Multi-State Money Trail

Following the complaint, the Madhya Pradesh Cyber Cell registered a case under relevant provisions related to cheating, forgery, criminal intimidation, and cyber fraud.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the stolen funds were immediately distributed across several mule bank accounts in different states, a common tactic used by cybercriminals to complicate financial tracking.

Cyber investigators are now examining banking records, digital transaction trails, mobile phone data, and internet protocol (IP) logs to identify those involved and recover any remaining funds before they are withdrawn.

Authorities Warn Senior Citizens Against Verification Scams

The incident has prompted authorities to issue a fresh advisory warning pensioners and senior citizens about scams involving fake verification calls.

Officials emphasized that government departments, banks, pension authorities, and law enforcement agencies never ask individuals to transfer money into personal or temporary accounts for verification, investigation, or security purposes.

Citizens are advised to disconnect any suspicious calls demanding urgent financial transactions, independently verify claims through official government offices or bank branches, and avoid sharing banking credentials, OTPs, or personal information with unknown callers.

Victims of cyber fraud are urged to immediately report incidents through the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the official cybercrime reporting portal to improve the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions.

Cyber Police Investigate Sophisticated Investment Fraud Operated Through Fake Trading Apps and Messaging Groups

Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered a case after a 31-year-old software engineer allegedly lost ₹37 lakh in a carefully designed online investment scam involving fake stock advisory groups posing as SEBI-registered professionals.

Officials said the fraud was executed through a structured digital ecosystem that used impersonation, manipulated trading dashboards, and psychological pressure tactics to extract large sums from the victim over several weeks.

Fake SEBI Identity Used to Build Investor Trust

According to investigators, the victim was added to a closed WhatsApp group that claimed to offer premium stock market insights under the name “A15 SEBI Premium Market Analyst Insights.”

To appear legitimate, the operators allegedly shared forged certificates, fabricated registration details, and staged performance reports showing consistent trading profits. Fake testimonials from other group members were also circulated to strengthen credibility.

The scammers gradually convinced the victim that the advisory group was officially connected to regulated financial authorities, encouraging him to participate in high-value investments.

Fraudulent Trading App Created Illusion of Profits

Authorities revealed that the victim was instructed to install a third-party application through an external link. The app reportedly simulated a live trading environment, displaying artificial profits and portfolio growth.

Encouraged by the apparent returns, the software engineer transferred multiple payments to different bank accounts controlled by the fraud network. The total amount invested eventually reached ₹37 lakh.

Police believe the platform was designed purely to manipulate user perception, creating a false sense of financial success to drive further deposits.

Pressure Tactics and Fake Regulatory Threats

The scam escalated when the victim attempted to withdraw his funds. At that stage, the operators allegedly changed their communication style, claiming that his account had violated regulatory trading rules.

They reportedly demanded an additional “compliance penalty” of 25% of the total balance to release the funds. When the victim questioned the charges, communication was abruptly cut off and access to the platform was blocked.

Investigators say this is a common pattern in digital investment fraud, where victims are pushed from promised profits into fear-based payment demands before being cut off entirely.

Cyber Police Investigation Underway

Hyderabad Cyber Crime officials have registered the case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Forensic teams are tracing digital footprints, including IP addresses, server routes, and linked bank accounts used to divert the funds.

Authorities are also identifying suspected “mule accounts” used to quickly transfer and launder the stolen money across multiple layers of transactions.

Public Advisory on Online Investment Scams

Cybersecurity officials have once again warned investors against joining unverified stock market groups on messaging platforms. They emphasized that legitimate regulatory bodies and licensed brokers do not operate investment schemes through informal chat groups or third-party download links.

Citizens are advised to verify any investment opportunity through official channels and immediately report suspicious financial activity to the national cybercrime helpline 1930 to increase the chances of fund recovery.

Authorities in Thanesar have registered a case after a senior member of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee was allegedly cheated out of ₹10 lakh by a fraudster posing as the personal secretary of senior political leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

Police officials said the case appears to be part of a growing trend of “VVIP impersonation scams,” where criminals exploit political identities to create urgency and extract money from victims.

Fake Identity Used to Create Political Urgency

According to investigators, the victim received an unsolicited WhatsApp call from an individual claiming to be a senior aide in the political establishment. The caller allegedly introduced himself as a personal secretary to Rahul Gandhi and used the name to build immediate credibility.

The fraudster reportedly claimed that an important party training event was being organized in Chandigarh and required urgent financial assistance from trusted party members. The victim was told that high-level leaders would be attending, increasing the pressure to comply quickly.

Believing the request to be genuine, the victim and another associate reportedly contributed ₹10 lakh collectively and prepared to transfer the funds.

Cash Handed Over in Chandigarh Parking Lot

The scam escalated when the caller instructed the victims to meet a supposed courier at a hotel parking area in Chandigarh for a direct cash handover.

At the designated location, the victims met an individual who identified himself only as a delivery agent. After a brief verification call with the impersonator, the cash—₹10 lakh in total—was handed over.

Investigators noted that the fraudster maintained constant communication during the exchange to reinforce trust and prevent suspicion.

Fraud Uncovered After Follow-Up Payment Demand

The deception came to light when the impersonator allegedly demanded an additional ₹5 lakh shortly after the first transaction. When the victim refused to pay further, communication was abruptly cut off.

Subsequent verification with official party channels confirmed that no such training program or financial arrangement had been authorized, exposing the entire operation as a coordinated scam.

Police believe the photograph taken by the victim of the courier at the handover site may assist in identifying those involved.

Police Investigation and Digital Tracking Underway

Thanesar City Police, under the supervision of senior officials, have initiated a detailed investigation into the case. Cyber teams are tracking mobile numbers, WhatsApp accounts, and digital communication trails linked to the accused.

Authorities are also reviewing visual evidence from the scene to identify potential suspects and establish links to similar impersonation fraud cases reported in other regions.

Officials said the case reflects an increasing misuse of political identities for financial fraud through social media platforms.

Advisory Against Political Impersonation Scams

Law enforcement agencies have issued warnings to public representatives and citizens about rising impersonation scams involving fake political aides and urgent money requests.

Officials emphasized that legitimate political parties and senior leaders do not request funds through informal messaging platforms or arrange cash transactions in private locations such as parking lots or hotels.

Citizens are urged to verify any such requests through official party channels and report suspicious activity immediately to cybercrime authorities.