Elderly Woman Duped of ₹43 Lakh in Noida as Cyber Fraud Cases Cross ₹84 Lakh in Single Day

Noida (The Uttam Hindu): Cybercrime continues to rise in Gautam Buddh Nagar, with three separate fraud cases reported in a single day, totaling over ₹84 lakh in losses. Among the victims is a 76-year-old woman who was manipulated into transferring ₹43.7 lakh by a fraudster posing as a senior police officer. All three cases were registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station on Sunday night, and investigations are currently underway.

Case 1: Senior Woman Loses ₹43 Lakh to Fake Police Officer Threatening Terror Charges

In the most disturbing incident, Sarla Devi, a 76-year-old unmarried woman living alone, received a phone call on July 18 from someone claiming to be an Airtel official. The caller alleged her number was linked to illegal activities such as gambling and blackmail.

Shortly afterward, she received a video call from a man in a police uniform claiming to be ACP Sanjay Singh from the Mumbai Crime Branch. He falsely accused her of funding terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack and threatened her with arrest.

Frightened by the threats, Sarla Devi transferred ₹43.7 lakh across multiple bank accounts. The scam came to light when the fraudsters demanded another ₹15 lakh, prompting her to consult a lawyer.

Case 2: ₹40 Lakh Lost in WhatsApp-Based Stock Market Investment Scam

In another case, Surya Mohan Dhar, a 63-year-old resident of Shahberi, Greater Noida, was contacted via WhatsApp by a woman who posed as a stock market expert. She convinced him to invest money in shares by initially showing him small gains.

Between July 21 and August 12, he deposited ₹40.5 lakh into various bank accounts. Once the amount was transferred, the scammer blocked him and removed him from the WhatsApp investment group.

Case 3: ₹24,000 Lost After Fraudster Pretends to Be Victim’s Father’s Friend

In the third incident, Yeshu Mittal, a resident of Sector 75, was contacted by someone claiming to be a close friend of his father. The caller sent a small amount of money to his account and claimed it was accidental, requesting that the excess be returned.

Trusting the caller, Yeshu sent back ₹24,068, only to discover later that the original payment was a trap to gain his confidence and steal funds.

Police Action and Advisory

DCP (Cyber Crime) Preeti Yadav confirmed that all three cases have been formally registered and are under investigation. The police are urging residents to remain vigilant, verify any unusual financial requests, and report suspicious communications immediately to the cyber cell.