Vizag Professor Defrauded of Over Rs 1 Crore in Sophisticated Digital Arrest Scam
In a distressing case highlighting the growing threat of cybercrime, a 70-year-old retired professor from Visakhapatnam, commonly known as Vizag, has been swindled of more than Rs 1 crore by fraudsters employing a digital arrest tactic. The criminals posed as law enforcement officials, instilling fear with false allegations of involvement in human trafficking and overseas job fraud.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
The victim, identified as Sadakat Khan, initially received threatening phone calls from individuals claiming to be crime branch officials from Karnataka. They referenced a fabricated FIR number, asserting that a case had been registered against him for his supposed links to a gang engaged in human trafficking and fraudulent overseas job schemes.
The fraudsters escalated their scheme by alleging that this gang had created a counterfeit debit card using the professor's Aadhaar number, which was then purportedly used for illicit financial transactions. To add credibility, they prepared and sent a formal letter to the victim, falsely stating it had been forwarded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for further scrutiny.
Exploitation Through Fear and Authority
Subsequently, the professor received additional calls from imposters masquerading as CBI and ED officers. These callers threatened him and demanded his banking details under the guise of an ongoing investigation. Despite the elderly man's denials of any involvement, the fraudsters insisted the probe was proceeding.
Capitalizing on his mounting fear, the scammers then demanded Rs 80 lakh to prove his innocence. Terrified by the persistent threats, the victim reportedly transferred over Rs 1 crore to the criminals in three to four instalments. After the payments ceased, the calls stopped abruptly, and attempts to contact the so-called officers proved futile, revealing the scam.
Police Response and Warning to Senior Citizens
Suspecting a financial cyber scam, the victim approached the cybercrime police in Vizag and filed a formal complaint. Authorities confirmed that elderly citizens in parts of Andhra Pradesh are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals in digital arrest frauds.
Police observations indicate that senior citizens are particularly vulnerable due to several factors:
- Their trusting nature and lack of extensive digital awareness
- Feelings of loneliness, often as their children reside in other cities
- Financial stability, making them attractive targets
- Lack of immediate support systems to verify such threats
This case underscores the urgent need for heightened cybersecurity awareness among older adults and robust enforcement measures to combat such sophisticated scams.
