Two men have been arrested in separate cyber fraud cases involving alleged losses of ₹9.51 lakh and ₹23.3 lakh, with police investigations tracing portions of the money to bank accounts linked to the accused. In one case, a woman was allegedly placed under a so-called “digital arrest” after being falsely told that she was implicated in money laundering and human trafficking, while the second case involved an alleged investment fraud initiated through a social media advertisement and a WhatsApp group.
In the digital arrest case, police arrested Raj Kumar Shaw, 34, a resident of Howrah, from West Bengal. The case was registered on September 27, 2024, after the complainant reported losing ₹9.51 lakh.
Woman Allegedly Threatened With Money Laundering Claims
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly called the woman and falsely claimed that she had been involved in money laundering and human trafficking activities. She was then allegedly placed under “digital arrest” and made to transfer ₹9.51 lakh to a bank account provided by the accused.
During the investigation, police found that the money had been transferred to Shaw’s account. Officials said the accused also named another person who was allegedly involved in the crime.
Police have launched a manhunt for the other accused. Shaw was produced before a court, which sent him to judicial custody on Saturday.
The case highlights a fraud method in which victims are allegedly intimidated with claims of involvement in serious criminal cases and pressured into transferring money.
Social Media Advertisement Led to ₹23.3 Lakh Investment Fraud
In a separate case, cyber police arrested 32-year-old Mohammad Umar from West Bengal for allegedly cheating a resident of ₹23.3 lakh through an investment-related fraud. Umar was arrested from Sealdah in Kolkata.
According to the FIR registered on July 21, 2025, the victim came across an advertisement on Facebook and subsequently joined a WhatsApp group as instructed by the accused.
The complainant alleged that, acting on instructions from the group administrator, she transferred ₹23.3 lakh into various accounts provided to her.
A technical investigation and analysis of the money trail later revealed that ₹17.3 lakh had been credited to a bank account linked to the accused, police said. Umar, who is from Gaya district in Bihar, was arrested as part of the investigation.
Police Trace Money Trail, Other Suspects Yet to Be Arrested
During interrogation in the investment fraud case, Umar allegedly disclosed that two other people were involved with him. Police said those individuals have not yet been arrested.
The accused was produced before a court, which sent him to judicial custody on Saturday.
Investigators are continuing to examine the financial trail in both cases. In the digital arrest case, efforts are underway to locate another person allegedly linked to the fraud, while in the investment case, police are pursuing two additional suspects identified during questioning.
The two cases involved different methods, but both allegedly relied on victims transferring money to bank accounts controlled or used by those involved. Police investigations into the remaining suspects and the movement of the funds are continuing.
