Cyber Fraud Racket Busted in Pune; ₹48 Crore Scam Targeting Senior Citizens Exposed.

In a major breakthrough against rising cybercrime, Pune Cyber Crime Police have dismantled a sophisticated online fraud network that allegedly siphoned off nearly ₹48 crore by targeting senior citizens across five Indian states. The accused used fake banking alerts, impersonation calls, and malicious links to trick victims into revealing sensitive financial information.

According to investigators, the racket had been operating for over a year, with its roots spread across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, and West Bengal. Police arrested nine individuals during coordinated raids conducted over the weekend, including two suspected masterminds who allegedly ran illegal call centers disguised as digital marketing firms.

The scam followed a familiar yet effective pattern. Victims received SMS messages or WhatsApp alerts claiming their bank accounts would be blocked due to suspicious activity. When the recipients clicked the provided link or called the helpline number, they were connected to trained callers posing as bank officials. These callers persuaded victims to share OTPs, card details, or install remote access applications on their smartphones.

“Senior citizens were deliberately chosen because they are less familiar with evolving digital fraud techniques and more likely to trust official-sounding communication,” said a senior cybercrime officer involved in the investigation. Police confirmed that several victims lost their life savings, with individual losses ranging from ₹2 lakh to over ₹1 crore.

The stolen money was quickly routed through multiple “mule accounts” opened using forged documents, making tracking difficult. However, advanced digital forensics, real-time bank coordination, and IP address tracing eventually led police to the suspects.Authorities have frozen over 120 bank accounts linked to the scam and recovered approximately ₹9.5 crore so far.

Investigators also seized laptops, mobile phones, SIM cards, and detailed scripts used by callers to manipulate victims psychologically. “This was not a random operation; it was a well-structured criminal enterprise with clear roles, daily targets, and performance incentives,” officials said.

The Pune Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and reminded the public that banks never ask for OTPs, PINs, or remote access to devices. A dedicated helpline has been set up to assist victims and encourage prompt reporting, which significantly improves chances of recovery.

As cybercrime cases continue to rise nationwide, authorities say this bust highlights the urgent need for stronger digital awareness campaigns, especially for vulnerable groups. Further arrests are expected as the investigation expands to uncover additional accomplices and financial links.