Fraudsters dupe Bengaluru businessman of Rs 1.32 crore with fake PFI link claim

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Oct 29, 2025: Using a fake video showing people being beaten, fraudsters, posing as law enforcement officers, duped a 56-year-old Bengaluru businessman of Rs 1.32 crore.

The victim, Sitaram R (name changed) from Banaswadi, was accused of supporting the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and funding terror activities.

At 10.38 am on October 8, he received a call from a person claiming to be from the Mumbai police’s ’Enforce Department’, a fictitious agency. The impersonator accused him of money laundering and sharing illegal videos.

Sitaram was told that a person named OM Abdul Salam had been raided and police had found a Canara Bank debit card issued in Sitaram’s name, allegedly linked to PFI and terror activities.

The caller told Sitaram that to get out of the case, he had to transfer money to an account. He was assured that the amount would be returned after a few days following verification. Sitaram was also threatened that all his assets would be frozen.

The fraudster used phrases like “national secret” and ordered Sitaram not to inform anyone, including his wife, about the incident or face arrest.

"The Enforce Department sent a video showing people being taken into custody and beaten up,” the FIR stated.

“This made my mind totally numb and prevented me from conveying this message to my near and dear ones. I was forced to make the payment to the department by RTGS from my current and savings bank accounts.”

Between October 8 and 16, Sitaram made six transfers totalling Rs 1.32 crore, including one of Rs 52 lakh. 

The FIR was registered on October 25 after the fraudsters stopped contacting him. A probe is under way, police said.