• Source:JND
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Kerala Digital Arrest Case: An elderly man lost Rs 3.72 crore after being 'virtually arrested' by a cyber fraud gang in south Kerala district, Kollam. The Kollam City Cyber Police registered a case on Tuesday based on the complaint. Police on Saturday said that it has launched an investigation into the complaint filed by a 79-year-old resident of Padanayarkulangara.

The Kollam Cyber Police have registered a case under sections 318(2), 318(4), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. The bank accounts to which the money was transferred have been traced, and efforts are being made to freeze them, police added.

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How Was The Elderly Man Targeted?

Police said the elderly man fell into a trap after he picked up a WhatsApp call on July 7. The caller introduced himself as a BSNL official, claiming that the victim's mobile number was under the scrutiny of the Mumbai Cyber Police for its alleged use in illegal activities. Another person, appearing during the WhatsApp video call in a police uniform, claimed to be a Mumbai Cyber Police officer. The fake cop threatened the victim, alleging that a bank account had been fraudulently opened using the victim's Aadhaar details and was being misused for criminal activities.

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What Is Virtual Or Digital Arrest?

'Virtual arrest' or 'digital arrest' is a cyber scam in which fraudsters impersonate police or enforcement agency officials and threaten victims through WhatsApp video calls, claiming they are booked in criminal cases.

Police said, "The fraudsters showed the victim a fake arrest warrant and claimed that he was under ‘virtual arrest'. Later, the victim was asked to appear before a virtual court via video call. He was granted bail by the virtual court with the condition that he remain under the continuous surveillance of the investigating officer by keeping the WhatsApp call active," a police officer said.

The victim was further threatened that non-compliance would result in his bank accounts being frozen and his properties being seized, police said.

Victim Made 17 Transactions Between July 23 And August 29

Later, the fraudsters convinced him that he would be acquitted if he verified his bank accounts. As part of the ‘verification,' he was asked to transfer funds from his and his wife's accounts to bank accounts provided by the accused. The police officer said that, believing the claims, the victim transferred Rs 3.72 crore in 17 transactions between July 23 and August 29.

He realised he had been cheated only after the money was not returned.

(With PTI inputs)