Tech Professional from Bengaluru Duped of Rs 11 Crore in Digital Arrest Scam

Bengaluru, Dec 23 (NationPress) A shocking incident has surfaced involving a software engineer who was swindled out of Rs 11 crore after being ensnared in a digital arrest scheme, as reported by local authorities on Monday.

Police reports indicate that the cybercriminals posed as law enforcement officials from the Mumbai Crime Branch, executing their fraudulent plan under the guise of a digital arrest.

The affected individual, identified as Vijaykumar, a 39-year-old employee at a well-known IT firm in Bengaluru, fell victim to this elaborate scam.

A case has been formally registered with the North East Cybercrime, Economic Offences, Narcotics (CEN) police station in Bengaluru.

The scam unfolded when the fraudsters informed the victim that a case had been filed against him at the Colaba police station in Mumbai, alleging that a cash transfer had been made using his Aadhaar number.

The perpetrators claimed that the case involved a cheating amounting to Rs 6 crore and that his Aadhaar card had been misappropriated to open bank accounts for money laundering.

They further asserted that the matter was under investigation by the Supreme Court.

According to the police, the cybercriminals conducted thorough research and discovered that the victim had been actively investing in the stock market for several years.

Under the threat of arrest, the fraudsters coerced him into liquidating his shares.

Over time, the criminals managed to extort a staggering Rs 11.83 crore from the victim.

Through continuous intimidation, they kept the victim occupied with phone calls for over a month, threatening him in various ways.

During this period of digital arrest, the fraudsters advised the software engineer to vacate his home and seek refuge elsewhere to evade arrest.

The victim, following their dubious counsel, took residence in a lodge located in the Yelahanka area of Bengaluru, as reported by the police.

The impostors, initially claiming to be officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch, later escalated their threats and even posed as officials from the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate to further extort money.

Despite having transferred a significant amount, the fraudsters continued to demand more funds, prompting the victim to realize the deceit and report the matter to the police.

Digital arrest refers to a type of online fraud wherein scammers impersonate law enforcement or government officials, falsely claiming the authority to execute a digital arrest.

These fraudsters may reach out to victims via phone or online platforms, coercing them to remain on a video call until their financial demands are satisfied.

They may extort money in exchange for their silence on the fabricated legal allegations they have created.