In an elaborate and unprecedented cyber fraud, a Bengaluru-based executive was duped out of ₹59 lakh by criminals who orchestrated a fake courtroom scenario, complete with an online trial and a bogus judicial order. The victim, identified as KJ Rao, a 59-year-old head of litigation at a multinational company, fell prey to this sophisticated scam that unfolded over two days.
The sequence of events began with an automated call to Rao on September 11, warning him that all his mobile numbers would be blocked. Subsequently, he received a call from an individual claiming to be from the crime branch in Colaba, Mumbai, accusing Rao of money laundering linked to a mobile number registered in his name.
Despite Rao’s attempts to disengage, the situation escalated rapidly when he received a WhatsApp video call from a man dressed in a police uniform, positioned in a setting resembling a police station. Rao was then transferred to another caller, allegedly from the CBI, who informed him that he was under “digital arrest” and would soon be presented in a virtual court.
Under duress and confined to his room, Rao was connected to a faux courtroom via Skype, where actors posed as judicial officials and prosecutors, presenting fabricated charges against him. Convinced of the authenticity of the scenario, Rao was coerced into transferring ₹59 lakh to various accounts as directed by the fraudsters, under the guise of complying with a court order and RBI guidelines.
The cybercriminals maintained surveillance over Rao through the night via Skype, ensuring he followed through with the bank transactions the following day. It was only after the fraudsters terminated the call that Rao, left isolated and distraught, realized the deceit.
Rao immediately reported the incident at the Indiranagar police station. A senior police officer confirmed that the miscreants had funneled the stolen funds across different accounts and UPI IDs, with efforts underway to freeze these transactions.
