A youth from Mysuru has reported a disturbing incident in which cyber fraudsters allegedly held him in a “digital arrest” for 24 hours, borrowing a loan of Rs 4.7 lakh in his name. The victim, who approached the Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) Station, claims the fraudsters harassed him into sharing his gadget screen, and are now pressuring him to pay the loan’s EMIs, causing severe mental distress.
According to the FIR filed by the CEN police, the fraudsters initially contacted the youth, claiming his SIM card had been misused for illegal activities and that he was facing a non-bailable offence. They instructed him to download a communication app to speak with a “senior officer.” During this interaction, the fraudsters convinced the victim to share his bank account details for “verification.” Soon after, Rs 4.7 lakh was deposited into his account, and the amount was swiftly withdrawn by the fraudsters.
After a harrowing 24-hour ordeal, the youth checked his SMS alerts and discovered that a loan had been taken in his name from a financial service provider. The company is now sending him notices to pay the EMIs. The victim has denied ever applying for such a loan and is seeking police assistance to resolve the matter.
Police have issued a warning, urging the public to stay vigilant against such frauds. “If anyone is digitally arrested, they must immediately contact the CEN or local police. Digital arrests are a scam, and it’s unfortunate that many continue to fall prey despite widespread awareness campaigns,” a CEN officer cautioned.
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