The Money Trap

Bengaluru, Tuesday, 07:41 hrs

The day was just beginning for this highly qualified, flamboyant power couple. Both doctors at a leading hospital with a reputation that preceded them, they had it all. Here was a couple that had arrived, and arrived in style. Ensconced amidst the mountain ranges within a gated community that boasted of the super-elite, the Sinhas were the epitome of success. Between sips of exotic green tea on the lawn and family banter, the household help brought in Dr. Mala Sinha’s mobile phone. As she answered the call, she was pleasantly surprised. Apart from acknowledging with nods and the occasional “yes, that’s right,” there was little else she spoke. Finding his wife pacing the lawn with her mobile phone glued to her ear, her husband, Dr. Pratik Sinha, assumed it was a case of a medical emergency. As he headed inside to prepare for the day ahead, his wife came running in, her face lit with excitement and surprise. As she debriefed him, Dr. Pratik noticed that her excitement was contagious. She requested his consent for the plan laid out, describing it as an excellent opportunity. No sooner had he acknowledged than her phone shrieked again. Sliding her finger across the screen, she excitedly screamed, “Let’s do it!” A decision that would alter their fortunes forever.

Chennai, Tuesday, 11:32 hrs

It was just another day in paradise when the shrill tone of the mobile phone shattered the silence. Raj wasn’t expecting a call, as he had taken a day off from work just to spend quality time at home. Picking up the phone, he noticed the incoming call was from an unfamiliar source. The number was displayed, but it wasn’t on his contact list. Assuming it was from a vendor, he answered the call. What he heard shocked him! Raj froze as if time stood still.

Vizag, Tuesday, 16:44 hrs

Returning early from the office was a rare luxury for Sagar Reddy. A sincere, loyal, and upright executive with a leading pharmaceutical company, he had joined as a trainee some 25 years ago. Today was one of those rare occasions in his professional career when he got home earlier than usual. Having sought permission to embark on a short family trip to his ancestral village, Sagar was upbeat as he drove home. Reaching the driveway, he noticed the animated discussion his family was having. As he was about to turn the door knob, his mobile phone vibrated. With one hand on the knob and the other clutching his phone, he proceeded to answer the call. Leaving the door ajar, he stepped out and paced back and forth. His wife, assuming it was a call from the office, continued packing for the trip. Sagar briefly entered the house, picked up a small packet, and quickly walked out again before anyone could notice. Soon, Sagar had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a family waiting for him to take them on the trip. What was this solitary trip all about?

Bengaluru, Tuesday, 08:01 hrs

Dr. Mala Sinha, in uncontrollable excitement, was engaging with the caller while opening her stock trading account (investment account). It was an online process, and she was guided through downloading an app on her phone. This app sought all the relevant details required to open the account. About a dozen minutes later, her investment account was ready. Investment accounts require seed capital to begin with, and Dr. Mala had obtained Dr. Pratik’s consent to start with an initial investment of Rs. 10 lakhs (Rs. 1 million). With net banking making the process a breeze, the money was deposited, and the account was primed for the promised returns. Having made this ‘life-altering’ decision regarding their finances, Dr. Mala hurried to join her husband to leave for the hospital.

Chennai, Tuesday, 11:38 hrs

Raj stood still. He was gasping for breath, and words weren’t forthcoming. He had been informed that a parcel bearing his name, address, and mobile number had been confiscated in a distant town. This confiscated parcel was apparently found to contain narcotic substances, and Raj was now in serious trouble. He was to be interrogated by a police officer and the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau), and his involvement in drug trafficking would soon be flashed in the news. The only option available to Raj was to cooperate fully with the caller and his team. There was no time to think or seek help. Shocked, confused, and worried by the threats, Raj consented.

Vizag, Tuesday, 16:56 hrs

Sagar was following instructions given by the caller. He was not to disconnect the call and was instructed to leave his home immediately and move to a solitary room where he could discuss the situation without distractions. Sagar found a lodge not far from his home and rented a room. Throughout this time, the caller stayed on the line, pushing Sagar to follow every instruction. Once Sagar was alone in the room, he was told he was “digitally arrested.” He could not disconnect the call and was soon asked to join a Skype call where a self-styled law officer interrogated him. He was shown identity cards that appeared genuine, charge sheets that seemed true, and crime numbers and sections of the law under which he was to be charged. Sagar was required to stay on the Skype call, even needing permission to head to the washroom. Such was the rigor of the so-called “digital arrest.”

Bengaluru, Wednesday, 07:56 hrs

Dr. Mala Sinha couldn’t believe her eyes as she logged into her investment app. The Rs. 1 million she had invested had grown. A portfolio was created, and her equity was up by over 6.5%. She ran over to her husband in excitement, almost tripping in the process, to show him the unbelievable, quick return on their investment. Regaining their composure, Dr. Mala gave her husband an “I told you so” look. No sooner had this sunk in than they decided to scale up their investment. Another Rs. 2.5 million (Rs. 25 lakhs) was deposited via the app — seamless, quick, and efficient. This was so much fun, they thought.

Chennai, Wednesday, 04:03 hrs

It had been almost 17 hours since Raj was told he was accused of a serious crime with no option of bail. He hadn’t slept, and his head was spinning. The pressure of the accusation kept mounting, and the only option was to start making payments to “settle” the case with the officers handling it. Repeatedly coerced and threatened, he was forced to share his banking credentials and compelled to make fund transfers to various accounts. Over Rs. 7.4 lakhs were drained from his bank accounts. After an ordeal lasting over 20 hours, he was “free.” Penniless and with a false sense of relief, Raj mustered the courage to share the ordeal with his family. They advised him to approach law enforcement immediately. By the time the authorities acted, the “mule accounts” Raj had transferred money to were traced across the country and even abroad. The money was gone without a trace, and so were the numbers that had called him!

Vizag, Wednesday, 17:32 hrs

Sagar’s family spent the night sleepless. His wife had seen him talking on the phone and entering the house, but then he vanished. Could he have been kidnapped? What could have happened? This behavior was so unlike him, and no one knew his whereabouts. Mustering courage, Mrs. Sagar, accompanied by her children and her father, filed a missing person complaint at the nearest police station. The police promised to assign top priority to this strange case of disappearance. They combed the area, made inquiries, and later on Wednesday night, traced a clue from a boy who worked at a lodge nearby. The boy recalled someone resembling Sagar entering the lodge. Inquiries with the manager confirmed Sagar’s presence in room 302. The police forcefully entered the room and found Sagar unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The police seized the “packet” Sagar had taken from his house and his laptop. Retracing his online activities, they discovered that Sagar had been forced to empty his bank accounts of over Rs. 33 lakhs (Rs. 3.3 million) to secure his release from the fake “digital arrest.” Exhausted from the ordeal, Sagar realized he had just wiped out all his life savings. The money was untraceable.

Bengaluru, Sinha Residence

With each passing day, the profits were accruing. This seemed too good to be true. Considering themselves smart investors, the Sinhas continued to pour sizeable amounts into their investment account. At one point, Dr. Pratik Sinha attempted to withdraw a small percentage of the accrued profits. He was informed that it wasn’t possible as the profits were locked in a “multi-bagger investment” and that he would need to wait a day or two. In the meantime, they were persuaded to top up their investments as the plan was progressing so well. This continued for over 43 days, by which time the Sinhas were “all in.” Then, one fine Monday morning, when Dr. Mala attempted to log in to her investment account, an error popped up. Assuming it was a technical glitch, she tried again later, but to no avail. Calls to the number went unanswered, and that’s when they realized they had been taken for a ride. Leveraging all their contacts and influence, they filed complaints, and law enforcement sprang into action. A month later, the trail had gone cold. The Sinhas had lost over Rs. 5 crores (Rs. 50 million) to an online syndicate that had vanished without a trace!

The year 2024 has become infamous for the sheer scale and variety of cyber scams. Estimates suggest that over Rs. 2,000 crores of hard-earned money have been lost by Indian citizens to these scams. These scams range from parcel and narcotics scams to fake “digital arrests”—a non-existent legal concept—along with stock market investment frauds, DHL/FedEx scams, India Post scams, and other creatively designed traps. It is crucial that we avoid falling prey to these scamsters, and it all starts with not answering calls from unknown numbers. It all begins with a call.

Calls, downloading unverified apps, and clicking on suspicious links—often disguised as KYC.apk—can be malicious and open up your device to scamsters. Learn to BLOCK pesky callers. One defining characteristic of these scamsters is their persistence; they will relentlessly try to get you to answer the phone. Use caller-identification apps to help filter unknown calls. Remember, no one is immune to the lure of these scams. The scamsters’ strategy is to instil fear and play on your emotions, convincing you to part with your money. Greed—fuelled by deception—is what they exploit. Schemes that promise “get-rich-quick” returns simply do not exist in real life. Be practical and wise.

Remember: “A fool and his money are soon parted.” So don’t get conned. When in doubt, reach out to the cybercrime department for assistance or clarification. They are very helpful and considerate when offering guidance.