Udupi Police Arrest Digital Fraudster, Recover Rs 7 Lakh in Cash

In a significant breakthrough, the Udupi District CEN Police arrested a suspect involved in a digital fraud case and seized Rs 7,00,000 in cash.

The accused, Kiran (24), from Shahapur, Yadgir district, was apprehended in Dharwad. A mobile phone and Rs 5,00,000 in cash were recovered from him.

The fraud case began on September 11, 2024, when Kannar Santosh Kumar (45), a resident of Udupi, received a call from an individual claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller falsely informed him that his mobile number was involved in illegal advertisements and harassing text messages, and that 17 FIRs had been filed against him.

The caller threatened that his phone numbers would be disconnected within two hours and an arrest warrant had been issued. Soon after, Kumar received a WhatsApp video call from a person posing as a police inspector from Andheri East, Mumbai, who falsely accused him of being involved in a money laundering case related to one Naresh Goyal. The fraudster manipulated the victim into revealing his bank account details and transferred Rs 89,00,000 under the guise of an RBI fund verification process, claiming that the victim would be placed under virtual arrest if the funds were not cleared.

After a complaint was filed, a special police team, led by CEN Police Inspector Ramachandra Nayak, along with officers from Udupi Town Police Station, Padubidri Police Station, and other teams, initiated operations in Kerala and Maharashtra. During the operation, the police arrested Kiran and recovered Rs 5,00,000 in cash. They also seized Rs 2,00,000, which had been transferred to Mohammad Nisham C K’s account in Kerala.

In total, the police recovered Rs 7,00,000 in cash connected to the fraud case.

How to Stay Safe:

To avoid falling victim to such scams, always be cautious. Remember, police officials never initiate cases online or ask for money. The term “digital arrest” is fabricated by scammers and does not exist in Indian law. If threatened with it, you are likely dealing with a scam.

Never share sensitive information like bank details or OTPs over phone calls or messages. If you suspect a scam, report it immediately to the authorities and your bank to prevent further losses.

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