‘Your son will be arrested, pay or else…’, Mumbai professor loses Rs 1 lakh in AI scam

SS Sarkar, a 58-year-old professor at NMIMS College in Mumbai, suffered huge financial losses due to an artificial intelligence (AI) fraud scheme. Sarkar becomes entangled in a web of deception designed by individuals using artificial intelligence technology for nefarious reasons.

Fraudulent calls from ‘Inspector Vijaykumar’

The incident began when Sarkar, who was working in the agency, unexpectedly received a call from a person claiming to be “Inspector Vijay Kumar” of the Mumbai Police. In an urgent and authoritative tone, the imposter delivers dire news: Sarkar’s son has allegedly been arrested and faces imminent arrest and legal action unless she pays a large sum of money quickly.

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What makes this particular scam particularly clever is the use of artificial intelligence to enhance its legitimacy and effectiveness. Before contacting Sarkar, the scammers carefully collected her personal and family information from numerous social media sites, enhancing the victim’s authenticity and creating a sense of urgency. Despite not replicating her son’s voice, the scammers expertly exploited the vast amounts of personal information collected through artificial intelligence technology to increase the coercive tactics used throughout the extortion process.

Police investigation and response

As reports of AI-driven fraud continue to rise, cybersecurity experts and law enforcement organizations warn of the growing threat posed by tech-savvy scammers to unsuspecting individuals. The cyber unit of the Juhu police station quickly launched an investigation into Sarkar’s case and identified the criminals’ innovative methods of committing crimes. Work is being done with financial institutions to trace and block accounts involved in illegal transactions worth a total of Rs. 100,000.

Sarkar declined to respond to media requests and her side of the story remains unclear. In her formal complaint, Sarkar described the painful experience of giving in to false demands in which she believed her son’s freedom was threatened. It was only after the transaction was completed and subsequent contact with her son was made that the truth of the scam was revealed, leaving her in a state of shock and disbelief.

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