Pune: Two senior citizens in Pune fell victim to cyber fraud, losing a combined total of ₹38 lakhs in two separate incidents. The crimes involved fraudsters impersonating officials to gain sensitive banking information. FIRs have been lodged at Parvati and Hadapsar police stations, and investigations are underway.

First Case: ₹19.90 Lakhs Stolen from an 80-Year-Old in Parvati

The first incident took place in the Parvati area, where an 80-year-old resident lost ₹19.90 lakhs. According to police, the fraudsters contacted the victim on December 15, pretending to be representatives from a bank. They claimed that the victim's debit card services needed to be updated. Using this pretext, they extracted confidential banking details and transferred the money out of the victim’s account.

The fraud came to light when the senior citizen noticed the unauthorized transaction and reported it to the Parvati police. Inspector Amol More of the Crime Branch is leading the investigation.

Second Case: ₹18.25 Lakhs Defrauded in Hadapsar

In a separate incident on December 21, a senior citizen in Hadapsar was defrauded of ₹18.25 lakhs. The fraudsters contacted the victim, claiming that their gas supply would be disconnected due to unpaid bills. They instructed the victim to reach out to a person named "Devesh Joshi" for further assistance.

Once contact was made, the fraudsters manipulated the victim into sharing their bank account information. Using this information, they siphoned off ₹18.25 lakhs from the account. The Hadapsar police have registered the case, and Crime Branch Inspector Kalange is investigating.

The police have urged residents, especially senior citizens, to remain vigilant against calls or messages from unknown sources. Citizens are advised not to share confidential banking information under any circumstances and to report suspicious activities immediately.