Udupi: A man lost Rs 3.8 lakh in a scam after a fraudster posed as a CBI officer. In a complaint, Praveen Kumar stated that on Oct 19, while at home, he received a call warning that his mobile number would be deactivated within two hours. He was instructed to press 9 for more information, which connected him to someone who claimed that his Aadhaar Card was compromised.
Soon after, he received another call from a number displaying a CBI logo. The caller, posing as a CBI officer, informed him that a money laundering case was filed against him and that his documents needed to be verified. The complainant was asked to provide his Aadhaar card, passbook and PAN card, which he complied with.
Approximately half an hour later, the fraudsters informed him that his Aadhaar-linked Canara Bank account was used in money laundering. To cancel the case, they instructed him to transfer Rs 3.8 lakh via RTGS to a specified account, assuring him that once verified, the money would be returned. The complainant, believing the scammers, allegedly transferred the amount.
Later, through a WhatsApp video call, he was contacted again by someone pretending to be a police officer, instructing him to transfer more money from another bank account. At this point, Kumar became suspicious and told them he would report the matter to police. The fraudsters, still pretending to be CBI officers, responded, "Let's see what police will do." Realising he was scammed, he filed a complaint at Kundapur police station.