Retired Engineer from Hanumangarh Loses ₹1.5 Crore in WhatsApp Scam

A retired engineer from Hanumangarh, Om Prakash Makad, lost ₹1.5 crore in a shocking cyber fraud after receiving fake calls from people posing as police and CBI officers.

It all began on May 10 when Makad got a WhatsApp call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be Inspector Vijay Khanna from Colaba Police Station, Mumbai. He told Makad that his phone number was linked to a scam involving a fake company where ₹500 crore had been seized by the Enforcement Directorate.

Soon after, another fraudster pretending to be Neeraj Kumar, a DCP from the CBI, sent Makad a fake arrest warrant and began threatening him with calls. Over a week, Makad received 40 to 50 calls from both Indian and international numbers. The constant pressure made him fearful and confused.

The scammers convinced Makad that he was under investigation and had to cooperate to avoid arrest. They tricked him into revealing financial details, especially about his fixed deposits. Out of fear, Makad broke his savings from three different banks and transferred the money in three parts:

• ₹69.5 lakh

• ₹27.5 lakh

• ₹50.5 lakh

In total, he lost ₹1.5 crore.

After realizing it was a scam, Makad filed a complaint at the Cyber Police Station in Hanumangarh. Additional SP Jintesh Tanwar confirmed that a case has been registered under the IT Act. He said cyber experts are now working to trace the fraudsters and recover the money.

Tanwar also warned people to be careful of unknown calls, especially those claiming to be from police or government agencies. He said public awareness is very important to prevent such scams, especially among senior citizens who are often targeted.

This case is part of a growing trend of digital arrest scams in India, where fraudsters use fear of law enforcement to cheat innocent people. Police and cybercrime teams are stepping up their efforts, but staying alert remains the best way to stay safe.