Faridabad Doctor duped of Rs 2.23 cr., ‘arrested digitally’ by cybercriminals

In an alarming incident in Faridabad, a group of cyber fraudsters successfully swindled a doctor out of Rs. 2.23 crore by falsely implicating him in a money laundering case. The scammers, posing as officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch, subjected the doctor to relentless psychological pressure over a period of ten days, culminating in his “digital arrest.”

Dr. Arup Kumar Kundu, a resident of Sector 29 in Faridabad, operates a clinic named Madinova near his home. Currently, he is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Delhi. On June 26, he received a call on WhatsApp that marked the beginning of a harrowing ordeal.

The callers introduced themselves as Siddhartha Ghosh, Pratap Singh (Sub-Inspector), and Ajay Singh, allegedly officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch. They informed Dr. Kundu that his bank accounts were under investigation for money laundering. The supposed officers insisted on checking all his bank accounts to ensure no illicit funds had been deposited.

Initially, Dr. Kundu was incredulous, laughing at the absurdity of the situation. However, his amusement was short-lived. He soon received another call, and the tone had turned serious. The callers demanded immediate information about all his bank accounts. Overwhelmed by the frequency and intensity of the calls, Dr. Kundu complied and provided details of his two bank accounts.

The fraudsters didn’t stop there. A few days later, they contacted him again, claiming that illicit money had indeed been deposited into his accounts. They threatened him with imprisonment unless he secured a bail amounting to Rs. 50 lakh from the Supreme Court. To bolster their claims, they even sent a fabricated warrant purportedly issued by the Supreme Court to his WhatsApp number. Terrified and unable to confide in anyone, Dr. Kundu began to feel cornered.

Desperate to avoid arrest, Dr. Kundu transferred Rs. 1.30 crore from his account at the Sector-16 bank. However, the scammers continued to hound him, insisting that the case was larger than initially stated and that more money was needed to resolve it. They provided him with two separate bank accounts and instructed him to deposit Rs. 39 lakh into one and Rs. 20 lakh into the other. Succumbing to their intimidation, Dr. Kundu complied once again.

But the demands did not cease. The conmen contacted Dr. Kundu yet again, demanding an additional Rs. 34 lakh to completely clear the case. Driven by fear, he transferred the requested amount. In total, Dr. Kundu was coerced into transferring approximately Rs. 2.23 crore to the fraudsters.

The psychological trauma inflicted on Dr. Kundu during these ten days has left him deeply shaken. The realization that he had been deceived by individuals masquerading as law enforcement officers has been profoundly distressing.

In response to the incident, the Central Crime Station police have registered a case and launched an investigation. The authorities are working diligently to trace the perpetrators and bring them to justice. This case underscores the increasing sophistication of cyber fraudsters and the importance of vigilance in the face of such scams.