**Cybercriminals Defraud Retired Scientist of ₹1.29 Crore in Uttar Pradesh**
A retired scientist from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, fell victim to a sophisticated cybercrime scheme, resulting in a loss of ₹1.29 crore. The victim, Dr. Shukdev Nandi, a former scientist at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, was targeted by cybercriminals impersonating CBI officers through WhatsApp calls. Over three days, he was coerced into transferring substantial amounts of money to various accounts.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two suspects, Pradeep Kumar Singh (50) and Mahfooz (21), in connection with this case. The authorities seized two mobile phones, PAN and Aadhaar cards, and documents related to cryptocurrency wallets from the suspects. Singh, identified as the director of a private firm, allegedly opened a corporate bank account at ICICI Bank specifically to facilitate the extortion of ₹1.29 crore from Dr. Nandi.
During interrogation, Singh confessed to distributing the stolen funds among gang members and receiving commissions in USDT (a type of cryptocurrency) via the Binance app, claiming to have earned 871 USDT to date. Mahfooz admitted to opening a bank account on the instructions of an associate in exchange for a commission, and he provided the gang with an ATM card and SIM card. Approximately ₹9 lakh linked to the fraud was deposited into his account.
A case of cheating and extortion has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Bareilly, invoking relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the IT Act. This arrest follows a previous crackdown on July 5, where four other members of the same gang were apprehended. Investigations are ongoing to trace additional bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, and other gang members involved in this elaborate scheme.
**FAQ**
*What should individuals do to protect themselves from cyber fraud?*
To safeguard against cyber fraud, individuals should be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages, verify the identity of the caller, avoid sharing personal information, and report suspicious activities to the authorities immediately.
