Jamnagar, Jan 28 (NationPress) A resident of Jamnagar in Gujarat was subjected to a digital arrest lasting 13 hours by a group of cybercriminals, resulting in a loss of Rs 13 lakh.

The victim, identified as Mehul Ramakantbhai Panji, fell prey to a scheme orchestrated by criminals impersonating officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Mumbai Crime Branch.

Reports indicate that Mehul was held in a state of digital arrest for 13 continuous hours. The fraudsters manipulated him by linking him to a fictitious drug-related case under the NDPS Act, threatening him with life imprisonment if he did not pay the specified amount.

In spite of persistent alerts from law enforcement agencies urging the public to be cautious of such scams, cybercriminals continue to target unsuspecting individuals.

The local police have launched an investigation into this cybercrime, emphasizing their advisory that no one can be digitally arrested by police or any official agency.

“Residents are strongly encouraged to report any dubious calls or messages to the authorities immediately to avert further victimization,” officials stated.

Ongoing investigations are in progress.

Digital arrest is an advanced form of cybercrime where criminals leverage social media and online platforms to extract sensitive information. They then intimidate victims with severe repercussions, such as threatening to disclose personal images or data, to extort money. Frequently posing as fake IPS or CBI officers, these online gangs focus on high-profile individuals, using fear and urgency to control their actions.

In Gujarat, there were 55 reported instances of digital arrest fraud from January to October 2024, leading to financial losses amounting to approximately Rs 13 crore.

Nationally, in the first quarter of 2024, Indians incurred losses of about Rs 120.3 crore due to digital arrest fraud, with 7.4 lakh complaints logged between January and April. A significant incident in Ahmedabad involved a doctor who lost nearly Rs 4 crore to individuals masquerading as law enforcement officials. Similarly, a 72-year-old from Vadodara was defrauded of around Rs 1.59 crore in a digital arrest scam.

In light of these events, the government has enacted several measures to combat these frauds. As of November 15, 2024, over 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1.32 lakh IMEIs have been deactivated to mitigate fraudulent activities. Additionally, a system has been established to detect and block international spoofed calls that imitate Indian numbers, a common tactic employed in digital arrest scams.