Mumbai: Andheri Lawyer Duped and Blackmailed by Cyber Fraudsters Posing as Experts

Mumbai, 14th September 2024: A 36-year-old lawyer from Andheri (East) fell victim to a scam where fraudsters not only swindled her out of money but also used her nude photos to blackmail her. The scammers, posing as cybersecurity experts, tricked her into a video call under the pretence of a routine check for weapons and injuries. During the call, they demanded she transfer ₹50,000, threatening her with arrest in a fake money laundering case.

To avoid the alleged charges, the lawyer complied and transferred the money while staying in a Powai hotel. The fraudsters convinced her to undress for the supposed inspection, and they recorded her while she was nude. The scammers later continued to blackmail her with these images, demanding more money.

The scam began with a call from someone pretending to be from TRAI, claiming her SIM card was linked to a money laundering case. She was then directed to a fake police officer from the Andheri cyber cell, who fabricated an FIR against her. Fearing arrest, she followed the instructions and went to the hotel.

Realizing it was a scam, she reported the crime to the police, who are now investigating the case and have requested bank details related to the transaction. The cyber team is also involved in tracking down the fraudsters.