Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Elderly Couple Duped in Sophisticated Fraud
An elderly couple in Chandigarh was tricked into giving away Rs 85 lakh by scammers who pretended to be government officials.
The scammers told the couple they were suspects in a money-laundering case and needed to get an 'Innocence Verification Certificate' to avoid arrest.
The scammers used fake documents and threats to make the couple believe they were in real trouble.
The couple transferred their savings into multiple accounts over a month, thinking the money would be returned after their 'innocence' was verified.
The scam ended when the scammers stopped responding, and the couple reported the incident to the police.
An elderly couple in Chandigarh was deceived into transferring Rs 85 lakh through a sophisticated fraud.
The scammers posed as government officials and claimed the couple needed an 'Innocence Verification Certificate' to avoid arrest in a supposed money-laundering case.
The scammers used forged documents, including RBI notices and court memos, to convince the couple of the legitimacy of their claims.
The couple was subjected to psychological pressure, including threats of immediate arrest if they did not comply with the scammers' demands.
The fraud lasted for a month, with the couple making several large transfers before the scammers stopped responding.
- Who
- An elderly couple from Chandigarh
- What
- Were deceived into transferring Rs 85 lakh through a sophisticated fraud involving forged documents and psychological pressure
- When
- Between mid-October and mid-November, with the FIR filed on December 9
- Where
- Chandigarh
- Why
- The scammers convinced the couple they needed an 'Innocence Verification Certificate' to avoid arrest in a supposed money-laundering case
Scammers
Victims
Method of Deception
Scammers
Scammers used sophisticated tactics, including forged documents and psychological pressure, to convince the victims of the legitimacy of their claims.
Victims
The victims were deceived by the scammers' tactics and believed they were involved in a genuine investigation.
Response to Suspicion
Scammers
Scammers escalated intimidation when the victims expressed doubt, using threats and fabricated documents to maintain control.
Victims
The victims were initially skeptical but were ultimately convinced by the scammers' tactics and the fabricated evidence.
- Victims
- Elderly couple from Chandigarh
- Amount Lost
- Rs 85 lakh
- Duration of Scam
- One month (mid-October to mid-November)
- Initial Contact
- Caller posing as an official from TRAI
- Forged Documents
- RBI notices, court memos, and verification slips
- Police Station
- Cyber Police Station, Sector 17, Chandigarh
- Law Enforced
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Sources
UP: Retired Railway Worker In Amethi Loses ₹19.28 Lakh After Sharing Documents In Online Fraud Call
71-year-old woman duped of Rs 49 lakh after ‘digital arrest’; Delhi police nabs three for posing as govt officers, cops
Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a month-long ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly Chandigarh couple
UP man loses Rs 1 lakh in suspected cyber fraud; probe on
