Mon Dec 09 13:56:48 UTC 2024: ## Mumbai Homemaker Outsmarts Online Scammers Posing as Police
**Mumbai, India** – A Mumbai homemaker, Kavita Patkar, 35, has turned the tables on a sophisticated online scam after initially falling victim to their ruse. Patkar filed a police complaint after realizing she had inadvertently shared her Aadhaar details and photographs with individuals posing as TRAI and Mumbai police officials.
The scam began with a recorded message claiming her phone service would be disconnected. After pressing 1, she spoke with a man identifying himself as Rohit Singh, who claimed to be a TRAI official. Singh alleged her number was linked to a fraud case involving 15-20 victims and questioned her about her Aadhaar card.
She was then transferred to another man, “Sanjay Singh,” who claimed to be a police officer. He requested photos of her Aadhaar card and a video call, during which he appeared in a fake Mumbai police uniform with a backdrop featuring the police logo. Singh then accused Patkar of involvement in a Rs 2.60 crore money laundering case, claiming her ICICI Bank account received 10% of the laundered funds. He demanded her bank account details as “proof” to avoid a two-year jail sentence.
However, Patkar became suspicious and informed “Singh” she would personally visit the police commissioner’s office with all documents. The scammer immediately disconnected the call. Patkar subsequently filed a First Information Report (FIR), reporting the incident and the unauthorized access to her personal information. Police are investigating the matter.
First Piper 