RBI Officials Impersonation Scam Targets Retiree, Rs 95 Lakh Stolen

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Retired Engineer Duped of ₹95 Lakh in RBI GM Impersonation Scam

In a well-planned cyber fraud case, a retired junior engineer from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has fallen prey to a ₹95 lakh scam perpetrated by a man posing as a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) General Manager.

According to news reports, the accused, identified as Deepak Singh, created a sophisticated scheme that spanned over four years, targeting the victim’s lapsed life insurance policies.

The victim, Jitendra Kumar Srivastava, a retired junior engineer from the Housing Construction Corporation, held approximately 28 insurance policies that had lapsed due to non-payment of premiums. In 2022, while researching online for RBI-related information, Srivastava came across a contact number and contacted it for assistance.

The Scam Unfolds

Srivastava was initially asked to provide personal documents, following which the impostor presented himself as an RBI official claiming that the victim was eligible for a refund of ₹2.20 crore against the lapsed policies. However, this refund was contingent upon the payment of processing and verification charges.

Believing the claims, Srivastava made multiple installment payments between 2022 and 2026 into accounts provided by the accused.
The scammers maintained psychological pressure on Sravastava through repeated calls, fabricated procedures, and false assurances, ensuring continuous payments.
The accused couple used the defrauded money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including children’s education expenses, purchasing a sports utility vehicle, and traveling across multiple states.

Investigation and Arrest

An investigation led by the cyber cell began when Sravastava’s daughter noticed irregularities in their financial transactions. Digital tracking, bank transaction analysis, and surveillance inputs helped trace the accused couple and led to their arrest near a temple in Kanpur.

Upon recovery, investigators found mobile phones, a laptop, bank documents, and a vehicle used in the scam.
The accused couple operated using fake websites, spoofed caller IDs, and forged domains to impersonate RBI officials.
Cyber experts warn citizens to be cautious of similar scams and advise avoiding sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers.
Authorities urge the public to report suspicious calls, emails, or messages to cybercrime helplines or local cyber police stations promptly.

Investigation is ongoing to determine if the duo is part of a larger cyber fraud syndicate operating across multiple states.