84-yr-old among 3 persons dupedof Rs 1.74 cr in digital arrest scams

NT Reporter

Panaji

In three different cases, three Goa residents recently lost a combined amount of over Rs 1.74 crore in what police referred to as ‘digital arrest’ scams.

An 84-year-old man from Velim, Salcete, lost around Rs 80 lakh, while a retired employee (67) from Valpoi, Sattari, lost over Rs 50 lakh. In another case, a 44-year-old housewife from Navelim, Salcete, lost over Rs 44 lakh in the scam.

Cyber Crime Police at Ribandar recently registered FIRs in connection with the cases and are further investigating
the matter.

Referring to the first case, police stated that a user of a mobile and WhatsApp number impersonated a police inspector from Karnataka Police and falsely claimed that the complainant was involved in extortion, illegal advertisement activities and
human trafficking.

Police stated that the accused further claimed that an ATM card in the complainant’s name had been found in connection with an extortion case. The accused allegedly shared fake documents, including a fake arrest warrant, through WhatsApp and unlawfully subjected the complainant to a so-called “digital arrest”.

The accused induced and coerced the complainant into settling the alleged case by transferring a total amount of Rs 80,00,000, said police, adding that the incident occurred last month.

Referring to the case involving the retired employee from Valpoi, police stated that the accused, using mobile and WhatsApp numbers, impersonated officials from the Protection Board of India and Kulaba Police Station, Mumbai, and alleged that the complainant’s Aadhaar card was involved in a money laundering case linked to a bank in Mumbai.

The accused allegedly threatened the complainant with arrest and, through continuous monitoring via calls and video calls, subjected him to a so-called “digital arrest”, directing him to maintain secrecy and disclose his personal and financial details.

Police stated that the accused induced and coerced the complainant into settling the alleged case by transferring funds amounting to
Rs 50,50,000.

In the third case, police stated that unidentified accused persons, over the phone, impersonated officials from Bluedart, Crime Branch Mumbai and Mumbai Cyber Cell.