Retired Government Official Duped in Digital Arrest Scam of Rs 10 Lakh
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Synopsis
A retired government employee in Yadgir lost Rs 10 lakh to cybercriminals after being subjected to a digital arrest. The scammers impersonated law enforcement officials and coerced her into providing personal information, leading to the significant financial loss.
Key Takeaways
- Victim lost Rs 10 lakh in a digital arrest scam.
- Scammers impersonated Mumbai Crime Branch Officers.
- Personal information was coerced under threat.
- This is the first case of digital arrest in Yadgir.
- Related scams have led to significant losses in Karnataka.
Yadgir, February 18 (NationPress) - A retired government official became a target of cybercriminals, losing Rs 10 lakh after enduring a digital arrest for 12 days in Karnataka's Yadgir district, as reported by police on Tuesday.
The victim, who served in the Krishna Jal Bhagya Nigam Limited (KJBNL) at the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) camp in Shahapur taluk, has lodged a complaint with the Cybercrime, Economic Offences, and Narcotics (CEN) police station in Yadgir.
As per police reports, the retired officer received a video call from the cybercriminals impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch Officers. They falsely informed her that a money laundering case was filed against her related to crimes involving a criminal named Naresh Goyal.
The victim was coerced into providing her bank details, including bank accounts, passbooks, Aadhaar, and PAN card information for verification, under the threat of legal repercussions. Unfortunately, she complied and shared all the necessary documents.
After acquiring her details, the scammers claimed that the main suspect, Naresh Goyal, had been apprehended.
The criminals instructed her to transfer Rs 10 lakh to various accounts, which she did out of fear of arrest.
This incident marks the first reported case of digital arrest in Yadgir district.
The cybercriminals initiated contact through a video call on January 26 and subjected the victim to continuous threats until February 7.
In a related incident, a software professional in Bengaluru lost Rs 11 crore to a similar digital arrest scam recently, as per police.
Digital arrest refers to an online scam where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or government officials, reaching out to victims via phone or online to extort money.
