Noida: A 50-year-old woman from Noida has fallen victim to an intricate cybercrime scheme, losing a staggering Rs 11 lakh in what is now the first reported case of the “digital arrest” scam. The criminals, impersonating police personnel, orchestrated an elaborate deception involving a fabricated money-laundering case. The victim was duped into believing her involvement with an IPS officer in the CBI and the founder of a grounded airline.
The elaborate scheme unfolded when the woman received an interactive voice response (IVR) call on November 13, asserting that a mobile phone SIM card had been procured in Mumbai using her Aadhaar card for illicit activities. Subsequently, the call was transferred to an imposter posing as a Mumbai Police officer, who conducted an initial interrogation over the phone and through Skype video conferencing.
During the fraudulent interrogation, concocted allegations emerged, implicating the victim in money laundering tied to the founder of an airline. The victim was then falsely informed of an arrest warrant issued by the Supreme Court. The scammers employed doctored documents sent via Skype to lend an air of authenticity to the fictitious charges.
To clear her name, the victim found herself coerced into transferring funds from all her accounts to an ICICI account and subsequently redirecting the funds to another account, purportedly in compliance with the directives of the Supreme Court. In an additional twist, the scammers pressured the victim into applying for a personal instant loan of Rs 20 lakh from ICICI.
The victim, gripped by fear and manipulated into believing cooperation was necessary to prove her innocence in the concocted case, complied with the scammers’ demands, resulting in a total loss of Rs 11.11 lakh. The scammers, exploiting the victim’s anxiety and lack of awareness, succeeded in creating a facade of legitimacy around their fraudulent operation.
Inspector Reeta Yadav, overseeing the cybercrime police station in Noida, emphasized the paramount importance of public awareness and caution in light of emerging online crimes. She urged individuals to promptly report suspicious activities to law enforcement and reminded them that legitimate police procedures do not involve digital interrogations.
As authorities launch an investigation into this alarming case, it serves as a stark warning against falling prey to such sophisticated cyber scams. The incident underscores the critical need for heightened awareness, education, and vigilance in navigating the intricate digital landscape. With cybercriminals continuously evolving their tactics, staying informed and adopting robust cybersecurity practices becomes imperative for individuals to protect themselves from falling victim to such elaborate schemes.
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