Indore. In Indore, cases of fraud in the name of “digital arrest” are constantly coming to light. During the last eight months, thug gangs have duped 13 people of a total of Rs 1.50 crore in such different cases. Police gave this information on Tuesday. “Digital arrest” is a new method of cyber fraud. In such cases, thugs scare people by calling them audio or video calling by posing as law enforcement officers and digitally hold them hostage in their homes.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotia told reporters, “We have received complaints from 13 people about a total fraud of Rs 1.50 crore in the name of digital arrest since January 1. Out of this, we have refunded Rs 46 lakh to the victims.” He said that in most of the cases of “digital arrest”, the fraudsters introduced themselves as police or customs department officials or courier company employees and duped the complainants ‘online’ by threatening them with legal action in fabricated cases.
Dandotia said, “Our investigation has revealed that the people who commit fraud in the name of ‘digital arrest’ have links with Odisha, Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police said that in the latest case of ‘digital arrest’ in the city, the owner of a ‘transformer’ factory was trapped and duped of Rs 8 lakh.
He said, “The fraudsters called this person and said that the customs department has seized the container sent by him to Thailand because of drugs and objectionable material found in it.” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police said that the fraudsters also deceived the factory owner that his bank account was used for international money laundering.
He said, “The fraudsters introduced themselves as officers of the Mumbai Police’s Crime Prevention Branch and made a video call to this person in the name of investigation. They threatened this person with 14 years of imprisonment and a heavy fine and asked him to transfer Rs 8 lakh from his bank account to another account.” Dandotia said that when there was no response from the other side for a long time during the video call, the factory owner realized that he had been duped.