Mumbai Pensioner Duped of ₹9 Crore in Online Scam: 734 Transactions Over 21 Months

Mumbai – 8 August 2025:

In one of Mumbai’s most shocking cases of online fraud, an 80-year-old man was swindled out of ₹8.7 crore over a period of 21 months through an elaborate cyber scam involving four different women—who police now suspect may have been a single fraudster using multiple identities.

From Friendship to Fraud
The scam began in April 2023 when the pensioner sent a Facebook friend request to a woman named Sharvi. Though it was initially ignored, a few days later he received a friend request from her account. The two began chatting and soon moved their conversation to WhatsApp. Sharvi claimed to be a single mother and gradually started asking for money, citing her children’s medical emergencies.

In the following months, three more women—Kavita, Dinaz, and Jasmine—entered the picture, each weaving a tale of emotional distress and need. Kavita claimed to be Sharvi’s friend, sending inappropriate messages and demanding money. Dinaz said she was Sharvi’s sister, announcing Sharvi’s death and requesting hospital bill payments, even threatening suicide when the man asked for his money back. Jasmine, allegedly Dinaz’s friend, soon followed, pleading for help and money.

 A Costly Illusion

Between April 2023 and January 2025, the man made 734 transactions, sending nearly ₹9 crore to the women. With his life savings depleted, he borrowed ₹2 lakh from his daughter-in-law, and later sought ₹5 lakh from his son—who grew suspicious and confronted him.

Reality Hits Hard
The emotional and financial toll proved overwhelming. Upon realising he had been scammed, the elderly man suffered a breakdown and was admitted to hospital, where he was diagnosed with dementia.

A cybercrime complaint was filed on 22 July. Authorities are now investigating the possibility that all four identities may have been fabricated by a single fraudster.

The case highlights the growing threat of emotional manipulation in cybercrime targeting vulnerable individuals.