In-Depth: How a Sophisticated Scam Cost a Bengaluru Woman ₹31.83 Crore

The Beginning of a Nightmare

It all began on a seemingly ordinary day for a senior IT professional residing in Indiranagar, Bengaluru. Over six months, she unknowingly became the target of a meticulously planned scam, engineered by fraudsters who studied her daily routines with unsettling diligence.

The Bizarre DHL Call

On September 15, 2024, the woman received a call from someone pretending to be a representative of DHL, a global courier company. The caller falsely claimed that a package in her name contained illicit items such as credit cards, passports, and MDMA. Despite her insistence that she had no connections to Mumbai, the caller escalated the situation by linking her to a fabricated cybercrime case.

Imprisonment by Illusion: The Fake CBI Bluff

The deception deepened as the call was transferred to an individual posing as a CBI officer. Under these fabricated accusations, she was coerced into believing that she was being surveilled by criminals, and any contact with real authorities would put her family at risk. With her son’s wedding imminent, the fear was palpable, and she complied without question.

House Arrest via Skype and Asset Disclosure

The charade took a further sinister turn as these imposters imposed a fraudulent ‘house arrest’ using Skype. The woman was coerced to keep her camera on at all times while supposed CBI officers, Pradeep Singh and Rahul Yadav, monitored her every move. In a particularly harrowing moment, she was forced to declare her entire financial assets to a so-called RBI Financial Intelligence Unit.

The Unfolding Tragedy: Loss and Broken Promises

On September 23, 2024, compelled by fear and manipulation, she liquidated her savings and fixed deposits, transferring a staggering ₹31.83 crore to the scammers through 187 different transactions. Lured by promises of reimbursement by February 2025, she was further pacified with a fake clearance certificate. But hope dimmed as months passed without any return of funds.

The Abrupt Silence and Aftermath

The communication, fraught with threats and psychological abuse, spiraled into silence on March 26, 2025. Without response, the realization of betrayal set in, plagued by anguish and disbelief.

An Attempt to Seek Justice

It wasn’t until November 14, months later, burdened by shock and personal commitments, that she lodged a formal complaint. Now, under scrutiny by the East Cybercrime Police, the case—due to its massive financial implications—may soon be escalated to the CID for further investigation.

According to The Hans India, this chilling case is a stark reminder of how layered and convincing scams can wreak havoc on unsuspecting individuals, not just financially but emotionally as well. “`