Mysore/Mysuru: A doctor in Mysuru has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber scam involving threats of money laundering, resulting in a loss of Rs. 2.5 lakh under the guise of verification.

The incident came to light when Dr. Pavan, a Mysuru-based physician and a native of Haveri district in North Karnataka, reported the scam to the Krishnaraja Police.

The elaborate fraud began on April 25 at 12.30 pm, when Dr. Pavan received a call from an individual claiming to be an officer from the Telecom Authority of India.

The caller alleged that Dr. Pavan’s mobile number, linked to his Aadhaar number, was being used for illegal activities and that an FIR had been filed against him.

The caller instructed Dr. Pavan to visit the Tilak Nagar Police Station in Mumbai immediately.

When Dr. Pavan explained he could not travel due to his professional commitments, the caller connected him with individuals posing as Sub-Inspector Dixit and IPS officer  Vishwas Patil.

Dr. Pavan was informed that his Canara Bank account was involved in a Rs. 2.5 crore illegal transactions that amounted to money laundering. Fake bank statements and a copy of an FIR were sent to his WhatsApp number to support the claim.

On April 27, Dr. Pavan received another WhatsApp call from a different number, claiming that money had been transferred into his account as part of a money laundering investigation.

He was told to verify the legality of the funds by sending his account balance to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

A fake order, purportedly from the RBI, threatened arrest if he did not comply.

Believing the threats, Dr. Pavan transferred a total of Rs. 2.5 lakh in instalments, beginning with an initial Rs. 50,000. The funds were transferred online to various accounts.

On May 8, during a visit to Haveri, Dr. Pavan realised he had been scammed. He immediately reported the incident to the Haveri Police and filed an online FIR. The doctor later returned to Mysuru and filed a formal complaint with the Krishnaraja Police.

This case is part of a growing trend where cyber criminals collect Aadhaar and mobile numbers to dupe unsuspecting victims by posing as law enforcement officials and sending fake documents.

Authorities urge anyone receiving similar threats to visit their nearest Police Station immediately rather than comply with the scammers’ demands.