Retired government employee in Vizag loses over Rs 2.5 crore to digital arrest fraud; police warn senior citizens

VISAKHAPATNAM: A retired government employee (62) from Vizag city is the latest victim of the digital arrest fraud as he was duped of over Rs2.5 crore in fraud, after conmen posing as police officials threatened him with false criminal charges and formed him to transfer money.The victim received a call from a man claiming to be with the police department, who linked him to an alleged case of money laundering. The caller alleged that the phone number linked to the victim’s Aadhar card was involved in the money laundering case involving an airline firm. The caller alleged that some bank accounts were seized, one of which was in the victim’s name, linked to a Rs55 lakh money laundering case, and that his Aadhaar card had been fraudulently used.Later, the caller made a video call to the victim and told that they issued a arrest warrant against him and his family and threatened more than three years jail for the money launderingDespite denying any involvement, the victim was targeted by the fraudsters. The cyber crooks told the victim that his Aadhaar was used to obtain a mobile number connected to illegal activities.The fraudsters warned the victim not to disclose the matter to anyone and threatened him with dire consequences.

Believing the call to be genuine and following the instructions of the fake police officials, the victim transferred all his savings (over Rs2.5 crore). Only later, upon reading about similar scams, did the victim realise he had been duped. The victim approached the cyber crime police in Vizag city and lodged a complaint.The police said the senior citizens are turning victims in the digital arrest scams in parts of the state.

In some cases, the victims don’t report the crime out of shame, fear or lack of knowledge and sometimes the victims fall into depression due to emotional toll.The fraudsters have been creating fear, confusion and urgency among senior citizens in the name of digital arrest scams and looting the hard earnings of the senior citizens, said inspector of cyber crime police station, Vizag K Bhavani Prasad.We have been creating awareness among the senior citizens about various cyber crimes, particularly digital arrests and investment frauds as most of the senior citizens are turning victims in digital arrests frauds, he added.