Retired Mumbai Woman Duped of ₹26 Lakh in Fake Delivery Scam

In the latest Mumbai crime, a 59-year-old retired woman from Worli, Mumbai, has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber scam. Fraudsters posed as law enforcement officials and representatives of a popular delivery franchise, extorting ₹26 lakh by exploiting fear and legal intimidation tactics.

How the Mumbai Crime Happened

The scam began on April 24, 2025, when the victim received a call from an unknown woman who claimed to be from “Telephone Exchange.” The caller falsely informed her that her mobile number was linked to a criminal case involving illegal activities. She was warned that her SIM card would be blocked unless she complied with further instructions from a police officer.

Soon after, a man claiming to be a “Police Inspector from Delhi” called, introducing himself as the officer handling her case. He convinced the woman that her financial records were under scrutiny and that she would need to transfer all funds—including those from a fixed deposit—into her savings account and later send them to a specified bank account for verification by authorities.

Fearing arrest and legal trouble, and being told that even her son and daughter-in-law could be implicated, the woman panicked. On April 25, she broke her ₹25 lakh fixed deposit and transferred the amount to her savings account. The next day, she wired ₹21 lakh via RTGS to an account provided by the impersonator.

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The fraudster, who maintained constant pressure through WhatsApp calls and messages, then demanded an additional ₹5 lakh, allegedly for bail-related processing through the court. The woman, believing this would resolve the situation, transferred the amount to another bank account.

To reinforce their deception, the scammers sent her forged arrest warrants and fabricated documents over WhatsApp, bearing the name and photo of a senior police officer. The woman, terrified by the documents and instructions, was even told to delete the images after viewing them, ensuring no trace remained.

When the woman started questioning the delays in returning her funds, the caller gave evasive responses and ultimately blocked all communication. It was only after discussing the matter with her son that she realised she had been conned in a classic cybercrime tactic. of a Mumbai crime.

The victim of the Mumbai crime filed a complaint with the national cybercrime helpline (1930) on June 4. On June 18, an official FIR (No. 0094/2025) was registered at the Mumbai Cyber Police Station. Authorities have booked the case under multiple sections of the IT Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including identity fraud, impersonation of public servants, and cheating.

The suspects, whose real identities remain unknown, operated using multiple WhatsApp numbers and bank accounts. Police investigations are ongoing, with digital forensic teams working to trace the origin of the communication and freeze the accounts used.

Law enforcement officials are urging the public not to respond to unsolicited calls alleging legal action or demanding money, and to report such incidents immediately to cybercrime portals.