Bengaluru Techie Loses ₹11.8 Crore in ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam by Fake Police Officers

A software engineer was duped into transferring ₹11.8 crore after fraudsters, posing as police officers, accused him of Aadhaar-linked money laundering activities.

December 23, 2024: In a shocking cybercrime incident, a 39-year-old software engineer in Bengaluru fell victim to a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam and ended up losing ₹11.8 crore. Fraudsters posing as police officials and regulatory officers manipulated him into believing that his Aadhaar details were misused for illegal bank transactions.

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The Scam Unfolded

The victim first received a call on November 11 from an individual claiming to represent the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The fraudster alleged that his SIM card linked to Aadhaar was being used for illegal advertisements and harassment calls.

Later, he was contacted by another individual posing as a Mumbai Cyber Police Officer, who claimed that a case was registered against him at the Colaba Cyber Police Station for money laundering using his Aadhaar-linked accounts.

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Under the guise of “virtual investigation”, the techie was coerced into keeping the matter confidential. To appear authentic, the fraudsters even conducted a video call via Skype, where one individual was dressed in a Mumbai Police uniform. They fabricated a story that his Aadhaar was linked to ₹6 crore worth of fraudulent transactions.

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Fear and Manipulation

On November 25, another video call from a supposed police officer escalated the scam, with threats of arresting his family and consequences of a Supreme Court trial if he failed to comply.

Claiming compliance with fake RBI guidelines, the scammers instructed him to transfer money into specific bank accounts for “verification purposes.” Out of fear, the victim transferred ₹11.8 crore across multiple transactions over several days.

Realization and Complaint

When the fraudsters began demanding more money, the victim realized he was being scammed and approached the police to file a complaint.

The police have registered a case under the IT Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating and impersonation. An investigation is currently underway to trace the perpetrators.

This case highlights the alarming rise in cybercrime sophistication and serves as a cautionary tale for citizens to stay vigilant against such scams.

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Tags: Cybercrime, Digital Arrest Scam, Bengaluru Scam, Aadhaar Fraud, Online Fraud, Cyber Security, IT Act, Digital Safety, RBI Guidelines Fraud, Cybercrime Investigation.