A shocking case has emerged from Thane's Diva, where a local real estate agent received an income tax notice accusing him of being involved in transactions amounting to ₹382 crore. This unexpected situation turned out to be a complex financial scam that exploited the agent's personal information for money laundering activities.
The ordeal began in 2022 when the agent was approached by an acquaintance who offered him a job with a monthly salary of ₹20,000. As part of the hiring process, the suspect, accompanied by two accomplices, requested the agent's Aadhaar card, PAN card, photographs, and a signed cheque. These documents were later misused to open several fraudulent bank accounts and establish fictitious businesses under the agent's name.
According to police reports, these bogus accounts facilitated extensive financial transactions that culminated in the staggering ₹382 crore figure. The scam came to light when the agent received an inquiry from the Income Tax Department about the suspicious financial activities linked to his identity. Alarmed, he promptly reported the matter to the cybercrime police, who have since launched an investigation into the case.
Authorities have stated that the scammers exploited the agent's personal documents to conduct illegal financial operations, thereby enabling money laundering through these fake entities. “They opened multiple bank accounts used for large-scale money laundering,” explained a police officer involved in the case.
This incident serves as a grave reminder for the public to exercise caution when sharing personal documents. Scams of this nature are becoming increasingly common, and authorities are urging individuals to safeguard their personal information.
In addition to this case, a new form of bank fraud targeting debit and credit card users has also surfaced. Victims may receive pre-recorded calls notifying them of suspicious transactions on their cards. Fraudsters impersonating bank officials offer assistance in lodging cyber complaints, but these calls are entirely fraudulent. Authorities advise individuals to remain vigilant and report any suspicious communications to their banks.
As the investigation into the Thane scam continues, police are working diligently to track down the perpetrators and prevent further incidents of this nature.
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