Cyber frauds tell Delhi man he is being probed for Pulwama terror attack, take Rs 9 lakh

A 32-year-old man from Delhi fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud where scammers convinced him that he was under investigation for involvement in the Pulwama terror attack. The fraudsters contacted him multiple times, posing as government officials, including a fake Chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad. They claimed that a bank account in Kashmir, allegedly linked to the man’s identity, had received Rs 50 lakh in suspicious funds and warned him of serious legal consequences if he did not cooperate. According to the complaint filed on October 14 at Karol Bagh police station, the victim first received four calls from unknown numbers on August 13. During these calls, the scammers instructed him to switch on his camera, lock himself in a room, and not talk to any family members. They asked intrusive questions about his bank accounts and personal financial details before connecting him to a person impersonating a high-ranking ATS officer. The fraudsters pressured the man to travel to Lucknow for further questioning, escalating the intimidation. They then demanded he transfer money to an account supposedly linked to the Reserve Bank of India to "fund legalisation" efforts. Fearing severe repercussions, the victim transferred approximately Rs 9 lakh in two installments from different accounts. Later, when he refused to pay an additional Rs 4 lakh labeled as "bail application charges," the scammers cut all communication and switched off their phones. The victim reported experiencing intense mental distress after realizing he had been duped. The police have registered a case under Section 318(4) for cheating and are actively trying to trace the accused and recover the stolen funds. The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber frauds that exploit fear and misinformation around terrorism-related investigations to scam innocent people. Authorities continue to warn citizens to stay vigilant against such tactics, which often involve impersonation of officials and psychological manipulation. Fraudsters frequently use urgent and threatening language to create panic, making victims more likely to comply with their demands without seeking legal advice or verifying claims.