Kolkata Woman Loses Rs 78 Lakh In Phone Call Fraud

Introduction

A woman from Kolkata lost ₹78 lakh in a shocking phone-call fraud that has once again highlighted how cybercriminals are targeting unsuspecting citizens. The incident has left the victim’s family shocked, while police have launched a detailed investigation.

How the Fraud Started

According to police, the woman received a call from someone claiming to be an official from a government agency. The caller told her that a parcel linked to her Aadhaar number had been seized and contained illegal items.
The fraudster then accused her of being involved in a crime and said her bank accounts would be frozen.

The woman panicked and tried to explain that she had done nothing wrong. Taking advantage of this, the caller transferred the call to another person pretending to be a “senior officer”.

The Scare Tactics Used

The fake officers allegedly used classic intimidation techniques such as:

• Threatening legal action
• Claiming her identity was being misused
• Warning her not to disconnect the call
• Asking her to follow instructions “for verification”

Under pressure and fear, the woman was told to transfer money from her savings for “security checks”. The criminals convinced her that the amount would be refunded once her name was cleared.

How She Lost ₹78 Lakh

Believing the caller, the woman made multiple online transfers to different accounts.
By the time she realised she had been tricked, she had lost her entire savings — a total of ₹78 lakh.

When she finally shared the incident with her family, they immediately took her to the police station.

Police Investigation Underway

The Kolkata Police cybercrime unit has registered an FIR and started tracking the bank accounts where the money was transferred. Investigators are analysing:

• Call recordings
• Bank transaction trails
• IP addresses used for the fraud
• CCTV footage from ATM withdrawals linked to the accounts

Police believe the operation involved an organised cyberfraud gang operating from outside the state.

A Growing Pattern of Phone-Call Scams

Cyber experts say these “parcel fraud” and “verification officer” scams are becoming increasingly common. Criminals often pretend to be:

• Police officials
• Customs officers
• Courier company staff
• Income tax or bank employees

They use fear and urgency to force victims into making quick decisions.

What Authorities Are Advising

Officials have issued fresh warnings urging the public to:

• Never share bank details or OTPs
• Never transfer money based on phone threats
• Disconnect immediately if someone claims legal action
• Verify with actual police or agencies before acting

They also stressed that no genuine government agency asks for money over a call.

Conclusion

The Kolkata woman’s loss of ₹78 lakh is a painful reminder of how dangerous online and phone scams have become. Police are working to trace the criminals, while authorities are urging people to stay alert and avoid responding to suspicious calls.