IIT Professor Falls Victim to Cyber Fraud, Duped of Rs 12 Lakh
- An IIT professor in Chhattisgarh was duped by cyber thugs posing as a Cyber Crime Branch officer from Mumbai.
- The professor was held under digital arrest for 12 days and lost ₹12 lakh in the scam.
- The victim was tricked into believing she was involved in a money laundering case and had to cooperate to avoid arrest.
An Assistant Professor at IIT Jodhpur, Amrita Puri, has reported a harrowing experience of being digitally arrested for 12 days by cybercriminals who impersonated Mumbai Crime Branch officers. The fraudsters informed her that she was implicated in a money laundering case and that a parcel containing drugs and personal identification had been found in Mumbai. Under the guise of law enforcement, they manipulated her into compliance, leading to significant financial loss. On August 1, Puri received multiple calls from different numbers, ultimately connecting her to someone claiming to be the Deputy Commissioner of Police from the Cyber Crime Branch. Fearing arrest, she complied with their demands, which included transferring control of her communication devices. The criminals maintained constant surveillance over her, using her mobile phone and laptop to monitor her actions and prevent her from seeking help. The situation escalated as the fraudsters extracted sensitive information from Puri, including her bank account details. By August 11, they had successfully transferred approximately Rs 12 lakh from her account. The incident highlights the growing threat of cybercrime, particularly the tactics employed by criminals to exploit fear and manipulate victims into submission. Puri has since filed a complaint with the Karwad police station in Jodhpur, seeking justice and raising awareness about the dangers of such sophisticated scams. Authorities are now investigating the case to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further victimization.