Mumbai: 77-year-old duped of Rs 2.25 crore by fake terror investigation scam as cybercrime cases rise to 86,128

By: Team India Tracker

Cyber fraud, commonly referred to as internet or online fraud, typically involves deceiving individuals to extract money through digital means.

A 77-year-old resident of Goregaon was allegedly cheated out of more than Rs 2.25 crore by cyber fraudsters who threatened him with arrest in a fabricated terrorism case. According to officials, Mumbai Police have arrested a suspect from Gujarat in connection with the incident, PTI reported on Friday.

The accused, identified as Kishan Bhaveshbhai Makwana, is suspected of helping the fraudsters by opening bank accounts that were used to hold money obtained from victims of online scams. Police said the arrest followed technical analysis carried out during the investigation. Authorities said the case surfaced after the elderly victim filed a complaint with the cyber police. He told investigators that he began receiving calls from unknown individuals in November 2025.

One of the callers allegedly introduced himself as Akash Sharma and claimed to be a senior officer from the Mumbai Police headquarters. He told the victim that a bank account had been opened in his name in Jammu and Kashmir and that the account had been used to transfer money to suspected terrorists. The caller further claimed that the victim had received Rs 70 lakh as commission through the account and said he needed to appear before authorities for questioning. To make the claim appear genuine, the victim later received a WhatsApp message containing an official-looking notice that allegedly carried the signature of then National Investigation Agency chief Sadanand Date.

The message warned that if he failed to cooperate with the investigation, he could face up to 10 years in prison along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh. The fraudsters reportedly asked the victim to share his bank account details and told him that transferring money would help clear his name in the case. Out of fear of arrest and legal consequences, the man transferred more than Rs 2.25 crore in several transactions between November 18 and December 3, 2025, to bank accounts provided by the scammers.

After realizing that he had been cheated, the victim approached the North Regional Cyber Division of Mumbai Police and filed a complaint. During the investigation, police carried out technical analysis and tracked the money trail to bank accounts allegedly opened by Makwana in Gujarat. The accused was detained earlier this week after investigators confirmed his involvement during questioning. Officials said Makwana had allegedly opened bank accounts for cyber criminals, which were then used to move and store money obtained through fraudulent schemes.

Source: National Crime Records Bureau

The cases of cyber crime in the country are continuously rising as scamsters find new ways to dupe the people. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Crime in India Report 2023, the total number of cases reported during the year was 86,128, showing an increase of 31.2 percent in registration over 2021 (65,893 cases). The crime rate under this category increased from 4.8 in 2022 to 6.2 in 2023. During 2023, 68.9 percent of cyber-crime cases registered were for the motive of fraud (59,526 out of 86,420 cases) followed by Sexual Exploitation with 4.9 percent (4,199 cases) and Extortion with 3.8 percent (3,326 cases).This was the highest number of cases of cyber-crime reported in a year till date. The chargesheeting rate in the cyber-crime cases was just 33.9 percent.

Cyber fraud, commonly referred to as internet or online fraud, typically involves deceiving individuals to extract money through digital means. Scammers often reach out via phone calls, emails, text messages, or other communication channels to collect sensitive personal data. In many cases, they send malicious links or software to gain unauthorized access to devices or networks, allowing them to steal confidential information like bank account details, credit card numbers, or identity credentials.

Source: National Cybercrime reporting portal, Ministry of Home Affairs

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cybercrime in India has been rising at a concerning pace. Cases nearly doubled from 27,248 in 2018 to 44,735 in 2019, with 2023 marking the year with the highest number of cybercrime incidents on record.

These statistics highlight a troubling trend, not only is cybercrime increasing, but many cases remain unresolved. Moreover, the actual number of incidents is likely far higher, as many cases go unreported.

In response, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives to bolster cyber defense capabilities. These include creating comprehensive cybersecurity regulations, establishing robust legal frameworks, and enhancing the capacity of the judiciary to tackle digital crimes. Sector-specific Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) have also been formed to provide technical assistance and manage cybersecurity threats within distinct industries.

Despite these efforts, the continuing rise in cybercrime indicates that further action is necessary. Strengthening cyber awareness, increasing law enforcement capacity, and encouraging timely reporting of cyber incidents will be crucial in addressing this growing threat.