Navi Mumbai Doctor Duped of ₹26.52 Lakh by Scammers Posing as Customs Officials

Navi Mumbai Doctor Loses ₹26.52 Lakh in Cyber Scam Posing as Customs Officials

Thane, Sep 4:
A doctor from Ghansoli in Navi Mumbai has been scammed out of ₹26.52 lakh by a cyber gang that threatened to frame him in a fake case of money laundering and terrorism, police reported on Wednesday.

Senior inspector Gajanan Kadam of Navi Mumbai’s cyber police station said the incident started on August 26 when the doctor got a call from people pretending to be customs officers. The callers claimed he had sent a parcel to Dubai that contained illegal items, including police uniforms and drugs.

The scammers also told him that his case would go to a police station in Mumbai’s Andheri area. They falsely stated that his bank account was connected to terrorist activities and had laundered money in it. They warned him that he could be arrested for sedition if he did not follow their instructions, the officer noted.

Fearing the legal repercussions, the doctor felt pressured to transfer ₹26.52 lakh online to various bank accounts to “settle” the made-up charges and alleged money laundering issues.

The police have filed a complaint and started investigating the cyber gang responsible for the scam. Authorities are reminding citizens to be cautious and verify any calls or messages that claim to come from government or law enforcement officials before taking action.