Mangaluru: A 27-year-old cybercriminal from Tumakuru, identified as Arun T, has been arrested by the Mangaluru Central Crime Police for impersonating a Bengaluru Cybercrime officer and extorting ₹1.23 lakh from a Facebook user.

The arrest was made on July 15, and Arun now faces charges under Sections 66(C), 66(D) of the IT Act, along with Sections 112, 308(2), and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, registered under Crime No. 37/2025.

According to officials, Arun targeted users who interacted with popular Kannada Facebook pages such as Kannada Models, Troll Master, and Troll Basya. He would call victims pretending to be “Cybercrime Officer Sushil Kumar” from Bengaluru, accusing them of misconduct and threatening arrest. Fearful of legal consequences, at least one victim transferred ₹1.23 lakh to Arun’s bank account.

Police investigations revealed 11 similar complaints against Arun on the national Cybercrime Portal, pointing to a systematic extortion racket. Based on digital footprints and location tracking, police apprehended him from Bar Line Road, Kothitopu, near the Chamundeshwari Temple in Tumakuru. He has been remanded to judicial custody, and authorities are now tracing further victims and stolen funds.

Cybersecurity experts caution that “digital arrest” is a fake concept, commonly used in scams. Law enforcement never initiates arrests or collects money via phone calls.

How to Stay Safe:

  • Never trust unsolicited calls claiming to be from police or cybercrime units.

  • Digital arrest is a scam — it does not exist under Indian law.

  • Never share OTPs, bank details, or personal data over phone or messages.

  • Report such incidents immediately at https://cybercrime.gov.in or dial 1930.