Using knowledge gleaned from document easily available online, scamster gains trust of Mulund producer who lost gadgets worth lakhs in burglary; fleeces him of Rs 2597. Shirish Vaktania reports
Aaryan Karia, Mulund resident and producer; (left) A fake courier receipt shared with the victim by the scamster
Criminals are now reading first information reports (FIRs) uploaded on the Maharashtra Police website and using knowledge gleaned from them to commit cybercrime. Among those targeted in this fashion is Aaryan Karia, a producer of the Marathi films Lai Bhaari and Hemalkasa, who registered an FIR on December 17, 2025, in connection with a housebreaking incident where three smartphones — including a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, a laptop, two frequency therapy devices, and cash were stolen.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 that was stolen, along with a laptop, two frequency therapy devices, and Rs 15,000 in cash, from the producer’s home in 2025. Pics/By Special Arrangement
According to the police, the alleged cybercriminal noted down IMEI and mobile numbers from a copy of the FIR uploaded on the Maharashtra Police website and then called Karia on January 19, claiming he had found the latter’s smartphone. After gaining the producer’s trust by sharing the correct IMEI number, the fraudster asked him to transfer funds to courier the device, even producing a fake courier receipt. However, after making the transaction, Karia realised that he had been duped.
A screengrab from CCTV footage of alleged thief, who broke into Karia’s house on December 17, 2025; (right) the suspected thief in complainant’s housing society on Feb 4.
Cyber fraud
Karia said, “On January 19, I received a call from an unknown number, and the person on the other end told me that he found my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 in Assam. He even shared the IMEI number with me. Thus winning my trust, he told me to send him Rs 2597 to courier the device. The fraudster also sent a QR code to send money and a fake receipt. However, after transferring the money, I didn’t receive a parcel.” On January 21, Karia approached the cyber police station in Mulund and registered the complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCPR), and this was later forwarded to the Mulund police station.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 that was stolen, along with two other phones, a laptop, two frequency therapy devices, and Rs 15,000 in cash on December 17, 2025
The theft
Recalling what transpired last year, Karia told mid-day, “I was asleep before my alarm woke me up at 4.04 am on December 17, but I resumed sleeping. When I awoke again, I found that three mobile phones, a laptop, two frequency therapy devices, and Rs 15,000 in cash were stolen. The lock on my door had been opened. The accused had entered the house around 4.42 am. I informed the Mulund police and registered an FIR.” The accused was captured by CCTV cameras in my society, and the footage was submitted to the police, Karia said. According to Karia, the alleged thief was captured entering his housing society from a neighbouring building on February 4.
A screenshot confirming the transfer of money made in favour of the scammer
Victim’s plight
According to the complainant, fraudsters are reading FIRs as his IMEI number had not been mentioned anywhere else. “While registering the FIR, Mulund police mentioned everything, including the IMEI number of my stolen phone, my address, and my phone number. The accused had sent me a photo of a similar device.”
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