Elderly medical officer duped of Rs 2 Crore in digital arrest scam
Digital Arrest
Nagpur: In a major case of cyber fraud, a 76-year-old retired medical officer from Laxmi Nagar, Maharashtra, was allegedly swindled out of Rs 2 crore through a 'digital arrest' scam. The fraudsters who perpetrated this fraud claimed that his bank account was linked to terrorist activities.
The fraudsters posed as officials from the Supreme Court, the ED, the Mumbai Police, and the RBI; the accused allegedly sent fake documents bearing official government seals via WhatsApp and instructed the elderly citizen to transfer money online from their bank accounts.
Following the incident, the victim lodged a complaint at the Cyber Police Station on Saturday, based on which an FIR was registered. According to the complaint, the complainant received threatening messages on his mobile number between March 23 and April 3.
However, the police have invoked relevant sections of the BNS, including 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 340(1), 204, and 61(2), as well as Section 66 of the Information Technology Act. No arrests have been made so far, reports TOI.
Meanwhile, Cyber experts have warned citizens, particularly senior citizens, not to share their personal information or transfer money in response to calls claiming a "digital arrest" or a fake warrant.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a 90-year-old retired Air Force doctor in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was allegedly duped of approximately Rs 2.5 crore after being kept under “digital arrest” for nearly 25 days by cyber fraudsters. According to the complaint, the doctor received a phone call on January 25 from an individual claiming to be associated with an investigating agency. The caller alleged that the doctor’s official documents had been misused in illegal activities and warned him of imminent arrest and legal consequences.
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