Neurologist Duped: Falling Prey to Cybercrime Scam

A neurologist at SGPGI lost Rs 2.8 crore to scammers who posed as CBI officials and kept her under 'digital house arrest' for six days. The police have lodged an FIR and begun an investigation. Such cases of cyber fraud are rising, with criminals often impersonating officials.

A neurologist at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing Rs 2.8 crore to scammers. The fraudsters pretended to be officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and kept the doctor under 'digital house arrest' for six days.

Authorities have lodged an FIR concerning the incident, and the police have launched an in-depth investigation. According to officers, cyber criminals used the tactic of 'digital house arrest' to confine victims and exploit them. The criminals generated fear through audio and video calls, often impersonating law enforcement with AI-generated voices and video.

The doctor, Dr. Ruchika Tandon, was convinced her name was linked to a money laundering case involving Jet Airways' owner. The scammers threatened her with legal action, coercing her into transferring substantial amounts of money. The incident underscores a disturbing trend, as such cases are becoming increasingly common.

(With inputs from agencies.)