Cyber Fraud: 76-Year-old Man Duped of ₹30 Lakhs in Digital Arrest Scam
In a shocking incident, a 76-year-old man from Howrah fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme, losing ₹30 lakhs. The Howrah City Police’s cyber cell has arrested a suspect, Kapil Kumar, from Uttar Pradesh, recovering ₹6.17 lakhs in the process. The elderly victim was misled into believing he was under investigation for money laundering, leading to a harrowing three-day ordeal that left him financially devastated.
The scam unfolded on March 11 when the victim received a video call from an individual impersonating a police officer from Mumbai’s Colaba police station. The caller, dressed in police attire, informed him of a “digital arrest” due to alleged illegal activities linked to black money and customs issues at Mumbai Airport. To avoid legal repercussions, the victim was coerced into transferring ₹30 lakhs. It wasn’t until the account was closed that he realized he had been duped, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures against such cyber crimes.
