📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Mohammad hassan anwar
Crime
Cyber Scam in Punjab: Colonel Defrauded of Rs 1.21 Crore, Total Loss Rs 4.61 Crore
✍️ Amar Ujala · Mohali
🗓 05 Sep 2026, 09:33 AM
👁 5
Authorities in Punjab have uncovered a series of online frauds, including a case where a serving colonel lost Rs 1.21 crore, bringing the cumulative loss to Rs 4.61 crore.
Punjab police’s cyber crime cell reported a surge in online frauds that have collectively swindled Rs 4.61 crore from victims across the state. The investigations revealed that perpetrators used intimidation tactics over digital platforms to extract money from unsuspecting individuals.
One of the high‑profile cases involved a serving Indian Army colonel who was threatened through messages and coerced into transferring Rs 1.21 crore to the fraudsters’ bank accounts. The officer later approached the cyber cell after realizing the transaction was unauthorized.
Investigators traced the money flow to multiple bank accounts linked to a network operating from within Punjab. The cumulative amount recovered so far remains negligible, prompting the police to issue a public warning about similar scams.
The cyber crime unit has launched a dedicated task force to track the perpetrators, urging citizens to verify the authenticity of any online communication that demands money and to report suspicious activity immediately.
One of the high‑profile cases involved a serving Indian Army colonel who was threatened through messages and coerced into transferring Rs 1.21 crore to the fraudsters’ bank accounts. The officer later approached the cyber cell after realizing the transaction was unauthorized.
Investigators traced the money flow to multiple bank accounts linked to a network operating from within Punjab. The cumulative amount recovered so far remains negligible, prompting the police to issue a public warning about similar scams.
The cyber crime unit has launched a dedicated task force to track the perpetrators, urging citizens to verify the authenticity of any online communication that demands money and to report suspicious activity immediately.