Hyderabad: Private employee placed under ‘digital arrest’, duped of Rs 9.3 lakh

A 40-year-old private employee from the city has become the latest victim of ‘Digital Arrest’ fraud and ended up losing Rs 9.3 lakh.

Hyderabad: A 40-year-old private employee from the city has become the latest victim of ‘Digital Arrest’ fraud and ended up losing Rs 9.3 lakh.

The victim received an automated call from a fraudster posing as Telephone Department official, who informed him that his phone had been hacked and using his phone number, fraudsters opened an account in a bank in Mumbai and resorted to money laundering to the tune of Rs 6 crore.

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The fraudsters claimed that a case was already booked by the Mumbai police on the complainant and said they had disconnected services to his phone. They threatened that his number would be permanently blocked. They also impersonated the DCP of the Mumbai Crime Branch, falsely assuring the victim that he would not be arrested as he was innocent.

According to the police, the situation escalated when the fraudsters claimed that the victim’s son had been kidnapped. They stated that two constables had been sent to Moghalpura police station to bring him back. Further, the fraudsters alleged that illegal money was deposited into the victim’s bank account from multiple sources, implicating him in money laundering and illegal activities.

They further sent a fake letter from TRAI authorities, instructing him not to leave his house or withdraw money without their permission. The victim was coerced into reporting to the fraudsters every hour via video call.

Believing these threats, the victim went to the bank and transferred Rs 9,30,000 through RTGS. However, he soon realized he was cheated and approached the Hyderabad cybercrime police, who booked a case and took up investigation.