Elderly Man Falls Victim to Online Scam

An 80-year-old man from Mumbai was defrauded of nearly Rs 9 crore over a span of 21 months through 734 online transactions. The scam involved four women, who might actually be the same person, exploiting the man’s emotions under the guise of love and sympathy.

The Deceptive Beginning

The ordeal began in April 2023 when the elderly man sent a Facebook friend request to a woman named Sharvi. Although initially ignored, he later received and accepted a friend request from her. Their conversations quickly moved to WhatsApp, where Sharvi shared that she was separated from her husband and living with her children. She soon began requesting money, claiming her children were ill.

Multiple Identities Emerge

Shortly after, another woman named Kavita contacted the man on WhatsApp, claiming to know Sharvi and expressing a desire for friendship. Kavita sent inappropriate messages and also requested money. By December, a third woman, Dinaz, introduced herself as Sharvi’s sister, informing the man of Sharvi’s death and demanding money for hospital bills. Dinaz manipulated him further by threatening suicide when he asked for his money back.

The Financial Drain

The scam continued with a fourth woman, Jasmine, who claimed to be Dinaz’s friend and sought financial help. The elderly man exhausted his savings and borrowed money from family members to meet their demands. His son became suspicious when asked for Rs 5 lakh and learned about the scam.

Health Consequences and Legal Action

Realizing he was a victim of cyber fraud led to the man’s hospitalization, where he was diagnosed with dementia. A cybercrime complaint was filed on July 22, prompting an investigation into whether the four women were actually one person orchestrating the scam.