The victim was asked to create a profile on a phone based platform and was added to a WhatsApp group where admins and other members were discussing share trading tips and high profits.
When the victim disclosed the incident to his son, and the latter inquired with Central Bureau of Investigation officials, it became clear that the complainant had fallen prey to an elaborate cyber scam.
The cyber crime police station of the Pune City police has launched a probe into the case of whale phishing attack, also known as 'spear phishing scams' or 'CEO scams.'
Under the intense pressure of imminent arrest, the student was coerced into transferring Rs 53.63 lakh from her and her mother's bank accounts to various other accounts provided by the scammers.