Mumbai Police's Cyber Crime branch has launched an investigation after a retired Income Tax Department officer was defrauded of ₹8.5 lakh by individuals posing as officers of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The incident highlights the growing sophistication of impersonation scams targeting retired government servants.
According to sources, the victim, who served for several decades with the Income Tax Department before retiring, received a phone call from men claiming to be NIA officials. They informed him that his Aadhaar card and PAN card were linked to an illegal financial transaction and that he could face arrest if he did not cooperate immediately. The callers created a sense of urgency, pressuring the retired officer to comply with their instructions without verification.
Trusting the authority they projected, the victim was convinced to hand over ₹8.5 lakh as part of what was falsely presented as a security deposit or bail arrangement. The fraudsters reportedly used technical jargon and threatened immediate legal action to keep the man compliant throughout the conversation. Only after the money was transferred did the victim reportedly begin to suspect something was wrong and approached the authorities.
The Mumbai Police have registered a complaint and are tracing the transaction trail to identify the accused. The case is being investigated under sections dealing with cheating, criminal conspiracy, and identity theft. Authorities are also urging citizens to verify any claims of agency intervention through official helpline numbers rather than responding to unsolicited calls.
This scam follows a pattern seen across India, where organised fraud rings have been targeting retired civil and armed services personnel. Scammers exploit their knowledge of government procedures and their respect for authority to manipulate victims into transferring money. The NIA itself has repeatedly issued warnings that it does not collect money over the phone and that no citizen should make payments to individuals claiming to be its officers.
