ITBP Sub-Inspector Loses Rs 7.5 Lakh in Fake ATS Call Scam

The Incident

An Indo-Tibetan Border Police telecommunication sub-inspector based in Ramgarh, Panchkula, lost 7.5 lakh rupees after falling victim to cyber fraudsters posing as Anti-Terrorism Squad officials.

The Threat

Complainant Madan Singh, who belongs to Rohru in Shimla, received a call stating that his Aadhaar and mobile number were linked to a criminal case that would be sent to the ATS headquarters in Pune. The scammers used video calls while wearing police uniforms and sent fake documents from agencies like the National Investigation Agency and the Supreme Court to look real.

The Transfer

Under pressure from the callers, the officer shared his bank details and transferred 7.5 lakh rupees into accounts provided by the accused between October 11 and 12. The fraudsters promised to return the money within 12 hours, but stopped responding after the transfer, prompting the victim to report the matter on the national cybercrime portal.

Context

Digital arrest scams involving callers posing as law enforcement officials have become a common tactic used by cyber criminals across the country. Police regularly advise citizens that genuine law enforcement agencies never conduct investigations or demand money transfers over video calls.