Scammers forge Nirmala Sitharaman's signature, dupe Pune woman of Rs 99 lakh: Report
New Delhi: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, scammers forged the signature of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on a fake arrest warrant to swindle a 62-year-old retired LIC officer from Pune of nearly Rs 99 lakh, according to a report by India Today.
The fraud began in the last week of October when the victim, a resident of Kothrud, received a call from a man claiming to represent a “Data Protection Agency.” He alleged that her Aadhaar-linked mobile number had been misused for fraudulent financial transactions.
The call was soon transferred to another person, who introduced himself as a senior police officer named George Mathew. During a video conversation, the impersonator accused her of money laundering and warned that her bank accounts would be frozen. To make the threat appear legitimate, the scammers sent her a forged arrest warrant bearing Sitharaman’s fake signature and what appeared to be an official government seal, according to the Pune City Cyber Police.
The fraudsters reportedly told the woman that, given her age, she would be placed under “digital arrest” and instructed her to transfer all her savings to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accounts for “verification.” Believing the claim, she transferred Rs 99 lakh to multiple accounts that investigators later found were controlled by a cybercrime network operating from Thane.
To maintain credibility, the scammers even shared additional fabricated documents, including a fake Enforcement Directorate (ED) receipt. When the woman later tried to contact them, their phone numbers had been switched off. Realising she had been duped, she lodged a complaint with the Pune City Cyber Police.
Investigations are underway to trace the bank accounts and phone numbers used in the fraud. Officials said cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting public trust by misusing the names of legitimate government bodies like the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber) described the case as alarming, noting that the use of forged documents bearing signatures of senior ministers and top officials reflects a dangerous new trend. “These scams exploit public trust in official institutions. Citizens should verify any such communication directly with authorities before taking financial action,” India Today quoted the official as saying.
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Bagalkot: Siddaramaiah made false promises to farmers, alleges B.Y. Vijayendra
Bagalkot: BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of making false promises to farmers affected by the raising of the Almatti dam height, and sought clarity on compensation and fund allocation, The New Indian Express reported.
Addressing media persons while campaigning for the bypolls in Bagalkot city, Vijayendra questioned the government’s announcement of convening a special cabinet session to address farmers’ issues.
“How much funds have actually been released? The government should explain the status of the Upper Krishna Project,” he said.
He further said that the government had, around four months ago, promised compensation of Rs 40 lakh per acre for irrigated land and Rs 30 lakh per acre for dry land to farmers likely to lose their land.
Vijayendra demanded that the government disclose how much of the promised compensation has been disbursed so far.
