Bengaluru Woman Loses $4.3 Million in Elaborate Cybercrime Scam

In one of Karnataka's biggest cybercrime cases, a 57-year-old woman from Bengaluru was allegedly defrauded of Rs 31.83 crore ($4.3 million) by a gang of impostors. The elaborate scam began in September 2024 with a call about a suspicious parcel and spiraled into a marathon of coercion, manipulation, and financial extortion.

The fraudsters posed as CBI officers and accused the woman of criminal activity, warning that "all evidence is against you." They forbade her from contacting the police or family, claiming criminals were watching her home. Over the next six months, the scammers isolated the victim, creating the impression that she was under "digital house arrest." They appeared to know her routine, phone usage, and location, heightening her belief that she was under surveillance.

Under sustained pressure, the woman complied with the impostors' instructions to share financial details, break fixed deposits, and liquidate savings. Posing as officials from the "RBI-FIU," the fraudsters demanded that her funds be transferred for verification. In total, she made 187 transfers from her bank account, amounting to Rs 31.83 crore ($4.3 million).

The extortion continued until early 2025, with repeated assurances that her money would be returned. The prolonged confinement and pressure left the woman physically and mentally unwell. The scammers finally stopped communicating in March 2025, and the victim approached the police after her son's wedding in June.