Aluva Cyber police foil ‘virtual arrest’ attempt

The Aluva Cyber police station had a panicked visitor on Friday (June 27, 2025).

The man had his mobile phone held like a ticking time bomb. When the police tried to calm him down, he extended his phone to the officers who realised that a call was ongoing. It soon emerged that the man, a native of Aluva, had taken refuge in the police station to avoid the now common online fraud going by the name ‘virtual arrest.’

It turned out that a fraudster had allegedly called him with the threat that he had been booked for illicit trade, including drug smuggling, carried out through a website launched using his Aadhaar card. The fraudster reportedly insisted that the man immediately come online through a video call and produce his Aadhaar card, PAN card, and bank account details.

He was even reportedly given an alternative option of surrendering at the nearest police station in which case, the fraudster said, the officers would arrest and produce him in Delhi. It was at that point the man rushed to the cyber station.

A police officer took over from him and initially feigned as the victim himself. The fraudster allegedly continued the threat and demanded money. When the officer said that he was outside, the fraudster asked him to immediately return home and come online through a video call in a closed room.

The officer then started asking probing questions at which, the fraudster probably sensed trouble and fled after disconnecting the call. Attempts to contact the number, including through video call, failed as they returned the message that the phone was switched off.

The police sent back the man who was obviously relieved after educating him that there was nothing called virtual arrest.