Mumbai: Man Pretends to Be Cyber Officer, Cheats Scam Victims Again...
A 35-year-old man named Anil Madhukar Darekar from Raigad has been arrested by Mumbai’s West Cyber Police. He pretended to be a government cybercrime officer to trick people who had already fallen for online scams.
👤 What he did:
- Claimed he worked for the national cybercrime helpline (1930) and “14C” cyber cell.
- Told victims he could recover the money they lost and charged ₹5–₹10 per person—but from multiple victims, he collected over ₹1 lakh in total.
- Used fake ID cards, sent via WhatsApp, that looked like they were from the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
- Accessed information on real cybercrime cases and reached out to victims using different phone numbers.
📞 How he was caught:
Cyber police noticed complaints from scam victims saying someone offered to recover their funds—for a fee. They tracked him to Panvel, arrested him, and seized his mobile, debit card, and fake ID.
⚠️ Police warning:
- Officials stressed that no real cybercrime agency will ask for payment to recover money.
- If someone contacts you pretending to be from a cyber helpline and asks for payment, do not send money—report it using the official 1930 helpline or visit your nearest cyber cell station.
Summary:
A cybercriminal pretended to be a government cyber officer, promising scam victims help in getting their money back—for a small fee. He collected over ₹1 lakh before being arrested. Authorities remind everyone: don’t pay anyone for recovery claims—always confirm through official government channels.
