A shocking case of “digital arrest” has emerged in Mumbai’s Parel area, where cyber fraudsters held a 31-year-old man under digital confinement for 10 hours. The scammers instilled fear by claiming that he was under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). During this time, they managed to swindle ₹2.5 lakh from him. After realizing he had been duped, the victim filed a complaint at the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai (RAK) Marg police station under fraud and the Information Technology Act. The police have launched an investigation into the matter.
According to RAK Marg police, the victim, a 31-year-old resident of Parel, received a call from an unknown number on March 2 at around 9 AM. The caller claimed to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and alleged that the victim’s mobile number had been used in cyber fraud. Frightened, the victim insisted he had no involvement in any fraud. The caller then connected him to a supposed cyber police officer.
A person dressed in a police uniform video-called the victim and asked for his Aadhaar card details. The fraudster claimed that the ED was investigating his involvement in cyber fraud and financial irregularities. The victim was further threatened that both the CBI and RBI were looking into his case. Later, another fraudster posing as a central government officer sent him various forged documents bearing CBI and RBI seals, warning him of imminent arrest.
Fearing arrest, the victim followed the fraudsters’ instructions and transferred ₹2,51,934 into a given bank account. The cyber criminals kept him under digital confinement until 7 PM, instructing him not to inform anyone. However, when the victim finally confided in an acquaintance, he was informed that he had fallen prey to cyber fraud. Realizing the deception, he approached the police and lodged a complaint. The police are investigating the case and working to track down the cyber fraudsters involved.
