Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga

Shivamogga, Oct 26: Cyber fraudsters cheated a man from Shivamogga of a whopping Rs 26 lac by threatening him with false allegations of involvement in money laundering and human trafficking cases.

According to reports, the victim received a call from unknown persons claiming to be from a telecommunication company. They warned him that his SIM card would be blocked. Soon after, unauthorised money transfers were made from his bank account. The fraudsters then threatened him further, saying he was involved in money laundering and human trafficking cases.

Later, the victim received a WhatsApp video call from another unknown number. The caller posed as an investigating officer from Colaba police station in Mumbai and threatened to arrest him.

Another fraudster, pretending to be an ED (Enforcement Directorate) officer, told the victim that a judge would conduct an online meeting. During the call, a person impersonating a judge instructed the victim—in both Hindi and English—to transfer all the money from his fixed deposits and savings accounts to a so-called ‘government treasury account’ for investigation purposes.

The cybercriminals convinced the man that the transferred amount would be refunded if his bank transactions were found legitimate. They even told him to say he was ‘investing in a partnership business’ if the bank asked about the transfers.

Following their instructions, the victim transferred the money through RTGS on October 3 and 4, 2025, and even submitted a ‘security bond’, believing that the funds would be returned once he was proven innocent.

However, when no clarification or refund came from anyone, the victim realised he had been cheated.

A case has now been registered at the CEN crime police station in Shivamogga.