A 75-year-old retired professor from Shivaji University in Kolhapur has become the victim of the city’s largest recorded cyber fraud, losing Rs 3.6 crore. Between April 21 and May 16, 2025, cybercriminals impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Mumbai police coerced her into transferring the funds through 14 separate transactions.

This alarming incident underscores the growing threat of cybercrime, particularly targeting vulnerable individuals such as senior citizens. Authorities are currently investigating the case to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen funds.

Similar scams have been reported across India, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or regulatory officials to intimidate victims into transferring money. These tactics often involve threats of legal action or arrest, creating a sense of urgency that leads victims to comply without verifying the legitimacy of the claims.

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