'New Mumbai Scam?' Fake Police Official Jumps Into Auto, 'Vapes', and Then...

A woman from Mumbai has shared her experience of an alleged scam, in which a man posing as a police officer attempted to fine her for using a vape. She recounted the incident in a video, where she is seated in the back of a vehicle, and a man dressed in plain clothes forcefully entered and tried to arrest her. He also threatened legal action unless she paid him Rs 50,000. Suspecting something was amiss, she began recording the incident. "I’m currently on MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) Road, and this man followed me and got into my auto-rickshaw. He’s forcibly trying to take me to Powai Chowki," the woman said in the video.As she turned the camera towards the man, he covered his face with his hand and tried to smash her phone. "You cannot take me anywhere without a female police officer present," she added.Realising he had been caught on camera, the man quickly fled from the auto-rickshaw. The video, shared by a user on X (formerly Twitter), detailed the incident in a series of posts. The woman added that the man had taken her vape and started using it himself, while continuing to threaten her with legal consequences. He also refused to show any official identification or prove his identity.

Encounter with a Suspicious Cop Over a Vape in Mumbai. Asked 50k to let go.@MumbaiPolice please look into this incident.#fraud#femalesecurity pic.twitter.com/gitNVPCngU

— मराठा 🚩 (@Mard_Maratha_0) October 15, 2024

The video quickly went viral, attracting a wave of reactions. Social media users urged the Mumbai police to take action against the imposter. "Mumbai police, please take action against this cop; it's a matter of our police's image and women's safety in Mumbai," one user commented."There are no legal restrictions specifically preventing individuals from using e-cigarettes. The legislation forbids sales, manufacturing, distribution, export, transportation, etc," Another wrote. "New Mumbai Scam," a user remarked.