A 72-year-old Pune doctor fell victim to a cunning cyber fraud, losing nearly ₹5 lakh to scammers posing as gas company officials. The incident highlights the growing threat to vulnerable citizens as police push for stronger cybercrime defenses.
Pune, 1 July 2025– Dr. Maya Shriram Tulpule, a respected senior doctor from Karvenagar, was deceived by a WhatsApp call from fraudsters claiming to represent Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited. They warned her of an imminent gas supply disconnection due to an unpaid bill, pressuring her to download a malicious APK file. This allowed the criminals to hack her phone and siphon ₹4.95 lakh from her bank account. Devastated, she promptly reported the scam to Alankar Police Station, where a case was filed against the unknown perpetrators.
The investigation, led by Police Inspector Anil Mane, is underway, with authorities treating it as a case of online impersonation and financial fraud. Such scams, exploiting fear over disruptions to essential services like gas or electricity, are becoming alarmingly common. Citizens are urged to stay vigilant, avoid suspicious downloads, and ignore unsolicited threats.
In response to the rising tide of cybercrime, Pune Police are advocating for five new cyber police stations to bolster the city’s defenses. Currently, the sole cyber unit at Shivajinagar Police Headquarters is overwhelmed, handling up to 150 complaints daily. The proposed expansion aims to provide faster, specialized support to protect residents from increasingly sophisticated digital threats.
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