The Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police have arrested a 43-year-old man from Aliparamba in Malappuram district in connection with a major ‘virtual arrest’ cyber fraud in which an elderly resident of Aluva was cheated of nearly ₹1 crore.
The accused, identified as Salim, is suspected to have acted as a mule account holder, allegedly allowing cyber fraudsters to route illicit proceeds through his bank account. Investigators said a significant portion of the defrauded money passed through Salim’s account before being diverted further.
According to police, the victim was contacted over phone by scammers posing as officials from a central investigation agency. The callers claimed that a bank account had been fraudulently opened in his name in Mumbai and that ₹75 lakh linked to a human trafficking case had been deposited into it.
Using intimidation tactics, the fraudsters warned the victim of imminent legal action and placed him under what police describe as “virtual arrest” — a method in which victims are kept under constant digital surveillance through repeated calls and video chats to prevent them from seeking help.
Under sustained psychological pressure, the elderly man was instructed to transfer money to multiple accounts provided by the scammers. Investigators later established that a total of around ₹1.20 crore was transferred, with a major share routed through Salim’s bank account.
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Cyber police officials said Salim was identified through transaction trail analysis after the victim lodged a complaint. He was taken into custody from his hometown in Malappuram following verification of bank records and digital evidence.
Sources familiar with the probe said Salim has been categorised as a “mule account holder” — a person whose bank account is used to move funds obtained through cybercrime. During preliminary questioning, he reportedly claimed that he too had received a scam call, in which he was told that a bank account had been opened in his name in Mumbai and that suspicious transactions had taken place.
He allegedly allowed his account to be used after being threatened with legal consequences. However, police maintained that facilitating the transfer of large sums linked to cyber fraud constitutes a serious offence, and his precise role in the racket is being examined in detail.
Salim was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody. Investigators are now working to identify other members of the network, trace the remaining money trail and determine where the funds were ultimately withdrawn or converted.
Officials said the ‘virtual arrest’ scam has seen a sharp rise in recent months. In such cases, fraudsters impersonate officers of agencies such as the CBI or ED, accuse victims of involvement in serious crimes and conduct fake interrogations over video calls to create panic. Victims are then coerced into transferring money to “secure” accounts.
Senior cyber police officers noted that elderly citizens and those with limited digital awareness are most vulnerable to this modus operandi.
The cyber cell has urged the public to remain alert and remember that no government agency conducts arrests or seeks payments over phone or video calls. Citizens have been advised not to share bank details with unknown callers and to report suspicious contacts immediately to the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the nearest cyber police station.
Police said digital evidence, call records and bank statements related to the case are being analysed, and further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
