An 84-year-old retired Indian Air Force officer in Pune has lost ₹4.5 lakh after cyber fraudsters allegedly posed as bank officials and pushed him into using a fake online Life Certificate form, police said.
How the fraud unfolded
The incident took place between October 8 and 9 in Kondhwa, where the complainant lives. Police said the victim is a retired IAF officer who, like other central and state government pensioners, must submit a Life Certificate every year to keep receiving pension benefits. The certificate is also referred to as Jeevan Pramaan or proof of survival.
Senior Inspector Santosh Khetmalas said the fraudsters made a video call to the officer and claimed they were helping retired personnel complete the Life Certificate process. They told him the formalities could be completed from home and that the bank would manage the remaining steps.
The suspects later shared an online form through a messaging application. The officer downloaded it, entered his personal details, identity card information and banking details, and submitted it. Police said the form included a link to remote-access software. As a result, the officer reportedly exposed his bank account details to the fraudsters, who then transferred ₹4.5 lakh from his account.
Police response and safety warning
“We are examining the money trail and identifying the bank accounts to which the money was transferred,” Khetmalas said. No arrests have been reported so far.
Police said the case is part of a rising trend of cyber frauds targeting pensioners, including defence veterans, by misusing Life Certificate updates as a cover. Authorities and banks have advised that genuine submissions should be made only through official channels such as the Jeevan Pramaan portal (jeevanpramaan.gov.in), the SPARSH system for defence pensioners, authorised bank branches, post offices, or designated centres.
Pensioners have also been warned not to trust unsolicited calls, video calls, or forms sent through messaging apps. They are advised not to share bank details, OTPs, or remote access to devices with unknown callers, and to report such attempts immediately to the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the nearest police station.
