In a shocking cybercrime incident, a retired bank employee in Meerut was scammed out of ₹1.73 crore by fraudsters using a “digital arrest” scam. The victim, Suraj Prakash, was confined to his house for four days, threatened with arrest in a fake money laundering case, and forced to transfer large sums of money to unknown accounts.
How the Scam Unfolded
Suraj Prakash, a resident of the Civil Lines area, received a phone call on September 17. The caller introduced himself as an official from the telecom department, claiming that all his registered mobile numbers were going to be blocked. The reason? The caller alleged that a bank account had been opened in Canara Bank using Suraj Prakash’s Aadhaar card, and a sum of ₹6.80 crore had been deposited in this account through illegal money laundering activities.
Following this, Prakash received another call, this time through WhatsApp, from someone claiming to be involved in law enforcement. The scammer falsely informed him that a legal case had been filed against him in Maharashtra, and he would be arrested and sent to jail for his involvement in money laundering.
Coerced Into Transferring Money
The fraudster ordered Prakash not to leave his house or talk to anyone and demanded that he transfer large sums of money to avoid the charges. Fearful and confused, Prakash complied with the scammer’s demands.
- On September 18, Prakash transferred ₹3.80 lakh to one account.
- The next day, he sent ₹5 lakh to another account.
- On September 20, a huge sum of ₹90 lakh was transferred to a third account.
- On September 21, he made two more transfers of ₹45 lakh and ₹30 lakh to different accounts.
By the time Prakash realized he had been defrauded, it was too late. He reported the scam to the cyber police in Meerut.
Police Response
The cybercrime team has initiated action. According to Subodh Saxena, the in-charge of Meerut cyber police station, efforts are underway to freeze the accounts involved in the scam, and the investigation is focused on tracking down the culprits.
Similar Scams Targeting Others
Unfortunately, Prakash is not the only victim of this disturbing “digital arrest” fraud. There have been other incidents where people have fallen prey to similar tactics.
- Dr. Anuj Kumar, a resident of Jagriti Vihar Dwarka Tower, received a call on August 21 from a scammer posing as a special CBI officer from Hyderabad. The fraudster claimed that Kumar’s Canara Bank account in Bareilly had been used for money laundering. After being kept under “digital arrest” via a video call, Kumar was coerced into transferring ₹3.37 lakh from his accounts.
- Kiranpal, a resident of Saraswati Colony in Daurala, became another victim. After receiving his provident fund on May 23, he was called by someone pretending to be a CBI officer. The caller falsely accused him of funding terrorist activities and, through intimidation, forced Kiranpal to transfer ₹11 lakh.
- A retired Air Force employee from the Nauchandi area was also targeted. On July 9, he received a call from a scammer in police uniform, who claimed that ₹25 lakh linked to his Aadhaar card had been used for illegal activities. Through fear and threats, the victim transferred ₹15 lakh.
Conclusion
This string of “digital arrest” scams is a reminder of the growing dangers of cyber fraud. Scammers use fear, intimidation, and fake legal threats to manipulate victims into transferring large sums of money. It’s essential to remain cautious, verify the identity of anyone who makes such claims, and never transfer money without confirming the legitimacy of the situation. If you suspect fraud, report it to the authorities immediately.
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