In a significant breakthrough, the Kolkata Police has apprehended two more individuals linked to a sophisticated cyber fraud case, where a resident of Netaji Nagar was allegedly duped of a staggering Rs 1.8 crore through a 'digital arrest' scam. The arrests are part of an ongoing probe into the elaborate financial racket.
The Midnight Raid and Arrests
Acting on confidential intelligence, a specialized team from the Kolkata Police conducted a raid in the Hanskhali area of Nadia district on Wednesday night. The operation, carried out within the jurisdiction of the Hanskhali police station, led to the capture of the two accused around 8:30 PM.
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Debtanu Sarkar (25) and Sourav Biswas (27). Both are residents of the Hanskhali region, police confirmed.
Seizure of Crucial Evidence
During subsequent searches, investigators uncovered a trove of evidence pointing towards the cyber fraud operation. The seized items include:
- Two mobile phones
- Six ATM cards
- Eight bank passbooks and cheque books
- Several documents described as suspicious
Most notably, police recovered a hardware wallet, a device similar to a pen drive used for storing cryptocurrency. From this device, authorities seized cryptocurrency valued at approximately $3,800, which translates to roughly Rs 3.41 lakh.
Background of the 'Digital Arrest' Scam
This case stems from an incident reported four months ago. According to the police, fraudsters allegedly placed the victim under a so-called 'digital arrest', a tactic where scammers impersonate law enforcement or other authorities over phone or video call to instill fear and extract money.
The victim, a Netaji Nagar resident, was systematically cheated of the massive sum. A formal complaint was registered at the Netaji Nagar Police Station in September last year, triggering the investigation.
The latest arrests were executed as the probe delved deeper into the money trail and the wider network involved in orchestrating the scam. The recovery of the hardware wallet and cryptocurrency marks a crucial step in tracing the digitally laundered proceeds.
The Kolkata Police's action highlights the increasing threat of complex cyber crimes like 'digital arrest' scams and underscores the force's efforts to track down perpetrators and follow the digital money trail, even into the realm of cryptocurrency.
