Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh — In a major breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested five men accused of duping a jail clerk and his family of nearly ₹58 lakh through a sophisticated “digital arrest” cyber scam.
Modus Operandi
According to police, Jagmohan Saini, a clerk at the district jail, received repeated calls from individuals posing as officials from the CBI, Supreme Court, and Mumbai Crime Branch. The callers convinced Saini that his identity was being misused in criminal activities. Under fear and pressure, Saini and his family transferred ₹57.89 lakh between August 9 and 22, 2024.
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Gang’s Network
A joint operation by the Cyber Cell and Special Operations Group (SOG) led to a raid on Puranpur Road, where five accused — Manish Kumar, Vikas Verma, Rajendra Sharma, Prashant Chauhan, and Sanjay Bobby Deshwal — were arrested. Police recovered cash, fake Aadhaar cards, chequebooks, and SIM cards from their possession. Investigations revealed that the gang collected documents from poor individuals to open fraudulent bank accounts, which were then used to channel and withdraw the stolen money.
Cross-Border Transactions
Police officials said that a portion of the siphoned funds was routed to foreign accounts, particularly in Southeast Asia. The investigation is now focusing on the gang’s international links, additional suspects, and the wider funding channels.
Expert Opinion
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh explained, “Digital arrest scams are a new weapon for cybercriminals. By exploiting fear and confusion, they extort huge sums. It’s crucial for people to stay alert and immediately report such calls to the police or cyber helpline.”
Takeaway
The case highlights the growing menace of digital arrest scams, with police urging citizens not to panic under pressure and to report suspicious calls at the earliest.