Men pose as I-T team, con 80-year-old woman

Five well-dressed men arrived in a car at the house in North Ram Nagar a locality in Adambakkam. They identified themselves as Income Tax officials who were searching and surveying ‘the offices of a real estate and construction companies in the city for suspected tax evasion’.

The team of conmen told the octogenarian, Neela, that they are also raiding her son’s residence in Madipakkam at the same time. They told her that her house was being searched, as everyone related to the suspects were being investigated. The elderly woman was asked to switch off her mobile phone. They managed to find eight sovereigns gold ornaments and Rs 500.

After that, ‘head’ of the team started preparing a statement to be signed by the house owner. He asked two of his companions to take the ornaments out to weigh them using the machine which was apparently kept in the car. He then sent the other two to bring the ‘official seals’ from the car.

After a couple of minutes, the team leader too stepped out saying that he wanted to check on his men. He latched the door on his way out.

Only after hearing the car speeding away did Neela start doubting their intention. She made a call to her son, who told her that there was no Income Tax raid at his house or his office. She then called her neighbours to open the door. A complaint was lodged at the Adambakkam police station.