A retired officer from the Maharashtra Port Department has fallen victim to a meticulously orchestrated cyber fraud involving fake government identities and forged documentation. The scam, which spanned over a year and cost the victim ₹1.4 crore, highlights the growing menace of sophisticated impersonation frauds targeting vulnerable citizens.
Retired Mumbai Officer Duped of ₹1.4 Crore in Elaborate Cyber Scam
A 73-year-old retired officer from the Maharashtra Port Department was defrauded of ₹1.4 crore in Andheri by a group of cybercriminals posing as officials from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The fraud began in May 2023, when the victim received a phone call from an individual identifying himself as Alok Mehta, allegedly a representative from the Delhi office of EPFO. Mehta claimed that the officer had pending Provident Fund dues and instructed him to transfer ₹7,230 to initiate the release of the amount. Convinced by the presentation of forged documents purportedly from the Ministry of Finance and a private bank, the retired officer complied.
Soon, the requests escalated. Over the following months, the caller demanded further payments under various pretexts—processing charges, security clearances, and maintenance fees. The victim, trusting the professional tone and documentation, continued transferring funds. In one instance, he was promised a payout of ₹63.08 lakh in return for a ₹3.8 lakh fee and received a fabricated letter on a fake Finance Ministry letterhead via WhatsApp.
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Between May 2023 and April 2024, the victim transferred approximately ₹60 lakh across several bank accounts as instructed. Then, in March 2024, the deception deepened when a woman identifying herself as Mahi Sharma called, claiming to be a CBI officer. She said that Alok Mehta had been arrested for financial misconduct and that she was now handling the PF disbursement. Sharma sent the victim a fake cheque for ₹1.40 crore, stating the amount would be credited after the payment of income tax and NOC charges. Believing the claim, the victim transferred another ₹80 lakh between April and November 2024.
The total loss amounted to ₹1.4 crore before the retired officer, growing suspicious over the continued delays, decided to verify the documents. Upon closer scrutiny, he discovered that the cheque and all ministry letters were fraudulent.
He approached the Cyber Cell, which registered a case under relevant sections of the IT Act and Indian Penal Code. Officials confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that efforts are underway to trace the bank accounts used by the fraudsters, identified in the complaint as Alok Mehta and Mahi Sharma.
Cyber police have since urged the public to exercise caution, especially when dealing with sensitive financial matters like PF or pensions. Citizens are advised to rely exclusively on verified government portals and to avoid engaging with unsolicited calls, even if the callers claim to be from legitimate institutions.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.