Howrah Senior Citizen's Quick Thinking Saves Rs 28 Lakh from Digital Scammers
A 72-year-old retired assistant engineer from Howrah demonstrated remarkable courage and presence of mind when he escaped a sophisticated digital arrest scam that had trapped him for eight days and threatened to wipe out his life savings of Rs 28 lakh. The elderly resident of Malipachghara, who previously worked with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, managed to overcome intense fear and threats to report the matter to local authorities, ultimately safeguarding his hard-earned money.
The Elaborate Cyber Crime Operation Unfolds
The terrifying ordeal began on the evening of January 20 when the senior citizen received a video call from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as Vishal Kumar, claiming to be a senior officer from the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. He proceeded to ask for personal details including the retired engineer's name, age, profession, and residential address.
What followed was a carefully orchestrated scheme designed to instill maximum fear. The impersonator accused the elderly man of involvement in a major financial fraud where substantial amounts had been allegedly swindled using his mobile number. The caller issued a dire warning that the Supreme Court would issue an arrest warrant against him, and plainclothes officers would arrive at his doorstep to detain him if he failed to contact the Mumbai Police Crime Branch within two hours.
Psychological Pressure and False Authority Claims
The scammers employed multiple layers of psychological manipulation to maintain control over their victim. They specifically warned him against approaching local police, falsely claiming that the case was "pending in the Supreme Court" and being "investigated by the CBI." This tactic aimed to isolate the victim from legitimate sources of help.
When the frightened senior citizen explained that he suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes, couldn't travel alone, and only had his sick wife for company at home, the scammers adapted their approach. They informed him that he would receive a call from a supposed CBI officer named Anurag Thakur the following morning.
Sustained Harassment and Financial Demands
From January 20 through January 27, the retired engineer endured a relentless series of threatening calls. At one point, a person claiming to be a Supreme Court judge interrogated and intimidated him. The psychological pressure culminated in a direct financial demand: the scammers instructed him to transfer his entire savings of Rs 28 lakh to a specified bank account by the morning of January 28.
To make this outrageous demand seem legitimate, the fraudsters assured the elderly man that his money would be returned after "verification" processes were completed. This false promise represented the final stage of their elaborate scheme to separate him from his life savings.
The Turning Point: Suspicion and Police Intervention
The critical moment arrived when the scammers' insistence on money transfer triggered the retired engineer's suspicion. Instead of complying with their demands, he gathered his courage and approached the Malipachghara police station, where he provided a detailed account of his eight-day ordeal.
Police officers responded immediately with a comprehensive protective strategy:
- Contacting all three nationalized banks where the senior citizen maintained accounts to halt any payment transactions
- Deactivating payment applications on his mobile device
- Initiating tracing procedures for the phone numbers used by the scammers
- Advising him to change his SIM card as an additional security measure
Thanks to this prompt intervention, authorities confirmed that all his bank deposits remained secure and protected from unauthorized access.
Official Response and Public Advisory
Biswa Chand Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Howrah City Police, publicly commended the senior citizen's actions and urged other potential victims to follow his example. "When people receive such threatening calls, they should immediately do what this elderly gentleman did - report the matter to police without delay," Thakur emphasized.
This case highlights several important aspects of contemporary cyber crime in India:
- Increasing sophistication of scams targeting vulnerable populations
- The psychological manipulation techniques employed by organized cyber criminals
- The critical importance of reporting such incidents to authorities immediately
- The effectiveness of coordinated police responses in preventing financial losses
The retired engineer's experience serves as both a cautionary tale about digital threats facing senior citizens and an inspiring example of how timely police intervention can prevent devastating financial losses. His decision to overcome fear and seek official help ultimately protected not only his savings but potentially set a precedent that could help other potential victims recognize and resist similar scams.
