Pune, 20 February 2026: Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting senior citizens in Pune using sophisticated tactics ranging from fake police investigations to online investment traps. In three recently reported cases, fraudsters cheated victims of more than ₹3.5 crore.
Two of the victims are elderly citizens who were threatened and psychologically pressured into transferring large sums of money.
In the first case, an 86-year-old resident of Wanowrie was contacted through social media on December 19. The caller appeared in a police uniform during a video call and claimed that the senior citizen’s bank account was linked to a money laundering case registered at Colaba Police Station. The fraudster threatened arrest and insisted on verifying bank accounts.
Under pressure, the victim transferred ₹1.27 crore to multiple accounts. The fraud was discovered later, and a complaint was filed at the cyber police station on February 18. Senior Police Inspector Swapnali Shinde is investigating the case.
In the second incident, a 70-year-old man from Erandwane received a call on January 13 from a person claiming to be a Personal Data Protection Officer. The caller alleged that the victim’s Aadhaar card was being misused to circulate obscene content on social media and linked him to a banned organisation.
The fraudster claimed that ₹1.5 crore had been laundered through his bank account and that a financial crime inquiry was underway. The victim and his wife were intimidated into transferring ₹2 crore to different bank accounts. Police Inspector Sangeeta Devkate is leading the investigation.
In another case, a 33-year-old resident of Kharadi was approached with an offer of a part-time job promising high returns for completing online tasks. Initially, small profits were shown to gain his trust.
Later, he was persuaded to invest larger amounts through a fake app and fabricated dashboard displaying false profits. He eventually lost ₹11 lakh in the scam.
Cybercriminals are using fake identities, forged documents, video calls, official-looking logos and apps to create a sense of authenticity. Investigators said the fraud typically follows a pattern, first building trust, then creating fear or offering high returns, and finally extracting large online payments.
Cyber police have urged citizens to remain cautious. No government agency demands money for investigation. People should avoid sharing Aadhaar, PAN, bank details or OTPs with anyone. Suspicious links, apps or QR codes should not be accessed.
In case of fraud, citizens should immediately contact the 1930 cyber helpline or approach the nearest cyber police station.