Mumbai cyber police arrest two in separate digital arrest scams worth Rs 79 lakh

The accused Shejimon MK and Muhammed Safvan Abdul Hameed. Pics/By Special Arrangement

The Mumbai cyber police have arrested two persons after two senior citizens were allegedly duped of nearly Rs 79 lakh in two separate "digital arrest scams". One of the victims is a retired income tax official.

The North Region Cyber Police arrested the alleged beneficiaries from Kerala after tracing the fraud proceeds to bank accounts linked to them. Police said they are tracing the money trail and looking for other members of the network.

First case

In the first case, a 75-year-old retired income tax officer from Dahisar was swindled out of Rs 51 lakh. The cyber team traced the suspected money trail to Kerala and arrested Muhammed Safvan Abdul Hameed on August 14.

After being produced before a magistrate in Kerala, Hameed was granted transit remand and brought to Mumbai. He was subsequently produced before a Mumbai court, which granted police custody for further investigation.

[popcorn number="Aug 14" desc="Day the duo was arrested" class="Default"]

Second case

In the second case, a 76-year-old retired woman from Borivli allegedly lost Rs 28.70 lakh between July 7 and July 21. According to the police, she received a call from a person claiming to be police Sub-Inspector Sandeep Rao from Nashik. The caller allegedly told her that crores of rupees had been transacted from her ATM card.

The fraudsters sent her fake arrest warrants, seizure orders, and other documents. She was then told to pay money to avoid arrest and secure bail. The victim eventually transferredRs 28.70 lakh, police said.

During the investigation, police traced Rs 8.50 lakh of the defrauded amount to an account linked to MB Traders in Ernakulam, Kerala. Subsequently, the police arrested Shejimon MK, proprietor of the firm. He was arrested on August 14 and brought to Mumbai.

Money trail under scanner

The North Cyber Police are now examining the bank accounts allegedly used to receive the fraud proceeds and tracing the subsequent movement of the money. Investigators are also trying to identify other account holders, beneficiaries, and members of the alleged cyber-fraud network. The investigation is being carried out by PI Sunil Lokhande, API Rahul Khetre, PSI Rohan Ahire, HC Parab, HC Gavali, PC Shinde, and PC Chavan.

Police Speak

North Cyber Police officer
‘Both cases involved a similar modus operandi, with the victims where the perpetrators threatened the victims with arrest and pressured them into transferring money. We are investigating the complete money trail, the beneficiaries, and other persons involved'