October 25th 2023.
Mumbai saw a shocking incident reported by Cuffe Parade police, where a 71-year-old woman named Abaaj Hirjikaka was duped of a staggering ₹4.35 crore. The fraudsters posed as officials from the Employee Provident Fund Organization, telling Hirjikaka that her husband had deposited ₹4 lakh in the EPFO twenty years ago, and with accumulated interest, the sum had grown to ₹11 crore.
A woman named Sandhya Bhagwat convinced Hirjikaka that she could help her withdraw the amount. Believing her EPFO association and the promise of ₹11 crore, Hirjikaka agreed to the terms and started transferring money into multiple bank accounts provided by Bhagwat.
For months, Hirjikaka had to pay a total of ₹4.35 crore, which was said to be for various taxes. Bhagwat even threatened to freeze all bank accounts belonging to her and her husband if she didn’t pay up, leading to her giving in to the demands.
However, when Hirajikaka asked Bhagwat for the promised ₹11 crore, her phone was disconnected. Realising that she had been deceived, she reported the scam to the Cuffe Parade police and an FIR was registered under sections 384, 419, 420 of the IPC, and IT Act.
Abaaj Hirjikaka and her husband Feroze, a former employee of a major company, reside in Colaba. The incident serves as a reminder to be vigilant and aware of the various online and offline frauds that can occur.
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