Posing as officials from the Supreme Court, Telangana Police, and Bengaluru Cyber Coordination Unit, they allegedly told the complainant that a case had been filed against him under the Official Secrets Act, which could result in a 10-year imprisonment and put him under ‘digital arrest’
The Cyber Police have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify such calls, adding that no agency asks for signatures or orders a digital arrest. Representational pic
The North Cyber Police in Mumbai have registered a case where a Kandivali-based senior citizen was allegedly cheated of Rs 26.20 lakh after cyber fraudsters threatened him with ‘digital arrest’, claiming that 187 SIM cards registered in his name were being used for human trafficking and abusing women.
Posing as officials from the Supreme Court, Telangana Police, and Bengaluru Cyber Coordination Unit, they allegedly told the complainant that a case had been filed against him under the Official Secrets Act, which could result in a 10-year imprisonment and put him under ‘digital arrest’.
According to the police, the incident took place in November while the complainant was travelling to Nashik with his wife. He received a call from a man claiming to be a Bengaluru Cyber Police officer and was told that 187 SIM cards under his name were involved in human trafficking and verbal abuse. The caller further claimed that these SIM cards were recovered during a raid in Telangana and Rs 30 lakh had been deposited into his bank account.
Soon after, he received a WhatsApp message stating that a police case had been filed and he would be barred from performing any activities. Frightened, the senior citizen returned to Mumbai, where another caller informed him about a non-bailable warrant.
A woman posing as a police officer conducted a video call with him, obtained his bank details, and instructed him to send 50 signatures on blank paper.
Under pressure, the victim transferred money to the account given by the fraudsters.
"After the transaction, the accused stopped responding. Realising he had been duped, the complainant approached the North Region Cyber Police and filed a complaint. An FIR (first information report) has been registered, and we initiated further investigation,” said an officer.
The Cyber Police have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify such calls, adding that no agency asks for signatures or orders a digital arrest.
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