Tue Feb 25 19:00:06 UTC 2025: ## Berhampur University VC Falls Victim to Rs 14 Lakh Cyber Fraud

**Berhampur, Odisha:** Berhampur University Vice Chancellor Geetanjali Dash was defrauded of Rs 14 lakh by a cybercriminal posing as an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer, police confirmed on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on February 12th when the VC received a call from an individual claiming to be an ED official. The caller accused Dash of involvement in an ED case, alleging crores of rupees had been deposited into an account in her name. The fraudster then claimed she was under “digital arrest” and demanded Rs 14 lakh for her release. Dash transferred the money to an account provided by the caller.

After initially receiving a partial refund of Rs 80,000 to build trust, Dash realized she had been scammed and filed a complaint with the cyber police station on February 24th. Berhampur SP Saravan Vivek confirmed the registration of a case and stated that an investigation is underway to apprehend the culprits. The VC stated that the caller, who spoke in English, also referenced her family and instructed her to empty her bank account for an audit. Police are confident that they will soon identify and arrest those responsible for the fraud.

Read More