Politics · India · 1 hr ago
Fraudsters posing as election officials target voters in Maharashtra
Fraudsters posing as election officials have targeted voters in Maharashtra, with cases reported in Pune and Mumbai since August.
They contact people by phone or WhatsApp about electoral roll corrections or voter verification, using real procedures to seem credible.
A 79-year-old Pune resident allegedly lost ₹11.92 lakh after a caller discussed a request to correct his partner’s name on the voter list.
The caller asked him to share personal details and pay a ₹5 processing fee, after which two unauthorised bank transfers were discovered.
The cases involve identity theft and banking fraud, not manipulation of votes or election results.
Questions have been raised about how the fraudsters obtained voters’ personal information, but the method behind the transfers in this case has not been established.
Police have registered a case and assigned an officer to investigate the unidentified accused.
Cyber fraudsters posing as Election Commission officials have allegedly targeted voters in Maharashtra using electoral roll correction and verification procedures.
Several cases have been reported in Pune and Mumbai since August, involving calls, WhatsApp messages, suspicious links and purported forms.
A 79-year-old Pune resident allegedly lost ₹11.92 lakh after sharing personal information with a caller claiming to help correct his partner’s voter-list details.
Police registered a case in Pune on October 9, naming an unidentified accused and investigating alleged cheating and identity theft.
The reports have raised questions about how fraudsters obtained voters’ personal information and whether the complaints are connected.
- Who
- Cyber fraudsters posing as Election Commission officials allegedly targeted voters; one reported victim was a 79-year-old Pune resident.
- What
- The fraudsters allegedly used electoral roll corrections and voter verification procedures to obtain personal information and facilitate unauthorised banking transactions.
- When
- Several cases have been reported since August. The Pune complainant received a WhatsApp call on October 7, and police registered an FIR on October 9.
- Where
- Pune and Mumbai, Maharashtra; the detailed case was reported to Swargate Police Station in Pune.
- Why
- The fraudsters allegedly used official-sounding electoral procedures to deceive people into sharing personal or financial information.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Several cases involving alleged electoral roll cyber fraud were reported in Pune and Mumbai.
The Pune complainant submitted an online form to change his partner’s name on the voter list.
The complainant received a WhatsApp call, shared personal information and reported the incident on the national cybercrime portal.
Swargate Police registered an FIR concerning the alleged fraud.
- Reported locations
- Pune and Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Victim
- 79-year-old Pune resident
- Alleged loss
- ₹11,92,022
- Transactions
- Two unauthorised NEFT transfers of ₹4,99,011 and ₹6,93,011
- Police station
- Swargate Police Station
- FIR date
- October 9, 2026
Sources
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