Udupi Man Falls Victim to Rs 40 Lakh Digital Arrest Scam Involving Fake Officials
In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a 45-year-old man from Udupi was allegedly swindled of Rs 40 lakh by criminals impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Mumbai police, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The elaborate scam, which unfolded over several days, involved threats of immediate arrest and fabricated legal proceedings, highlighting the growing sophistication of digital crimes in India.
How the Scam Unfolded: A Timeline of Deception
The incident began on January 11, when the complainant received a call on his mobile phone. The caller, claiming to be from TRAI, informed him that illegal activities and threat calls were being made using a mobile number registered in his name. The fraudster stated that a case had been registered at Colaba police station in Mumbai and instructed the man to contact the station immediately to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Failure to comply, he was warned, would result in his mobile number being deactivated within two hours.
The call was then transferred to another number, where a person posing as a police officer from Colaba police station took over. This individual alleged that a bank account had been opened in the complainant's name at a bank in Colaba, Mumbai, through which Rs 4.9 crore of illegal funds were transferred. He further claimed that the victim was involved in a money-laundering case linked to a person named Naresh Goyal, with a Special Investigation Team ordered by the high court to probe the matter.
Digital Arrest and Intimidation Tactics
To add credibility to their scheme, the fraudsters escalated the audio call to a video call. During this interaction, a person identifying himself as Vikram Rathod, dressed in a police uniform, presented himself as the investigating officer. He provided his name and an identification number, threatening the complainant with immediate arrest if he failed to cooperate with the investigation.
Over the following days, the accused continued to make daily calls under the guise of interrogation. They collected various documents from the complainant and informed him that the case would be transferred to the ED for a joint investigation. This move was designed to increase pressure and create an illusion of legitimacy.
Financial Exploitation and Asset Details
Subsequently, a person claiming to be Rajesh Mishra, the ED director, contacted the victim. He obtained detailed information about the complainant's bank accounts and assets. Under the pretext of fund verification, he instructed that Rs 4 lakh be transferred from the complainant's wife's bank account to a so-called "confidential account" of the finance department on January 16.
The financial exploitation did not stop there. On January 19, an amount of Rs 21 lakh was transferred from the wife's account, followed by another Rs 15 lakh from the complainant's account on January 23. These transactions were directed to different accounts, culminating in a total loss of Rs 40 lakh for the victim.
Legal Action and Police Response
In response to this sophisticated fraud, a case has been registered at the CEN crime police station. The charges include violations under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which pertain to identity theft and cheating by personation using computer resources, as well as Sections 318(4) and 308(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), related to cheating and criminal breach of trust.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for heightened vigilance against digital scams. Authorities urge citizens to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be from government agencies and to avoid sharing personal or financial details over unsolicited calls.
