Cyber Fraud Victimizes Elderly Couple, Exposes Need for Vigilance
Retired Colonel Dalip Singh, 82, and his wife, 74-year-old Ravinder Kaur Bajwa, residents of Sector 2-A, fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme that resulted in a staggering loss of Rs 3.41 crore. The perpetrators, posing as employees of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), manipulated the couple with false allegations and intense pressure.
The ordeal began on March 18 when Bajwa received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller falsely accused him of being involved in a money laundering case, claiming he had sold his bank account details to jailed Jet Airways owner Naresh Goyal for ₹ 5 lakh, in addition to receiving a commission of ₹ 20 lakh for laundering ₹ 2 crore. To reinforce their deception, the scammers displayed a fake ATM card via video call and concocted a narrative about investigating a massive Rs 5,038 crore scam.
The scammers escalated their tactics by presenting alarming claims: one alleged victim had committed suicide, and they falsely asserted that Goyal had murdered a whistleblower and his family. They further manipulated Bajwa by threatening him with an arrest warrant issued by the Supreme Court.
In an effort to extract information, the fraudsters suggested an online ‘inquiry’ due to Bajwa’s age, asking him 15 questions related to the Goyal case. They threatened that if he did not cooperate, they would tarnish his reputation by leaking his supposed involvement to the media. During this period, they placed the couple under what they referred to as “digital arrest”, mandating that their phones remain on at all times and forbidding any outside contact.
This psychological torment lasted for 10 days, during which the couple was coerced into sharing personal financial information. On March 20, they pressured Bajwa to disclose details of Rs 8.80 lakh held in his bank account. Using a fabricated arrest warrant and account freezing notice delivered via WhatsApp, they forced him to transfer funds through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).
Under the duress of ongoing threats, Bajwa transferred money to various accounts, sending Rs 8 lakh on March 20, Rs 60 lakh on March 21, Rs 80 lakh on March 24, Rs 88 lakh on March 25, and Rs 1.05 crore on March 27, rendering his bank account empty. Following this, the fraudsters turned their focus towards his wife, convincing her to break her fixed deposit to “close the case.
To maintain control, the fraudsters insisted that Bajwa keep the video call open 24/7, responding immediately if the call was interrupted. They utilized multiple phone numbers to impersonate Cyber Crime officials and repeatedly contacted both Bajwa and his family.
Realizing they had been scammed, Bajwa filed a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Chandigarh, leading to a case being registered on April 1. The FIR, registered under multiple sections of the BNS, revealed the extent of the fraudulent activities. Fortunately, the Chandigarh Police managed to recover Rs 6 lakh of the lost funds.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant against such scams. They advise never sharing personal or financial information over the phone with unknown callers, to verify any legal notices received, and to report suspicious calls to the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal information in an increasingly digital world.