A 76-year-old retired bank employee from Udupi allegedly lost ₹22 lakh after cyber fraudsters targeted him in a digital arrest scam by impersonating officials from the cyber crime wing, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the complaint, the victim received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number at around 3 pm on July 10. When he answered the call, the person on the other end appeared in a police uniform and claimed to be an official from the cyber crime unit in Colaba, Mumbai.
The fraudster allegedly told the retired banker that a bank account opened in Mumbai was linked to him and that hundreds of crores of rupees had been laundered through the account. The caller created fear by claiming that the victim was under investigation in a serious financial crime case.
The accused continued contacting the victim through WhatsApp calls between July 11 and July 16. During these calls, they allegedly impersonated senior police officials, an ED officer and cyber crime authorities to gain his trust.
The fraudsters allegedly informed the victim that the money lying in his bank accounts needed to be transferred through RTGS for verification purposes as part of an investigation. They assured him that the amount would be returned after the verification process was completed.
Believing the fake officials, the victim transferred a total amount of ₹22 lakh to the bank account details provided by the accused. He later realised that he had been cheated and approached the authorities.
A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have started an investigation to identify the accused persons and trace the movement of the transferred funds.
Cyber crime experts have repeatedly warned that fraudsters involved in digital arrest scams use fear, fake identities and continuous video calls to psychologically pressure victims. They often impersonate officials from law enforcement agencies, courts, regulatory bodies and financial institutions to convince people that they are facing criminal proceedings.
Experts advise citizens that government agencies never demand money transfers through phone calls or video calls for investigation, verification or account clearance. Any such demand should be treated as a warning sign and immediately reported to the authorities.
Investigators are examining technical details, including phone numbers, bank account records and digital footprints linked to the fraud. Further action will depend on the evidence collected during the probe.
