Noida Woman Scammed of ₹11 Lakh in Digital Arrest Scam
A woman in Noida has fallen victim to a new type of scam called the digital arrest scam. Cyber criminals duped her of ₹11 lakh placing her under a fictitious “digital arrest” for approximately eight hours. The incident occurred on November 13 and the victim filed a complaint with the cyber crime police station in Noida.
The digital arrest scam involves scammers posing as police officials who claim that the victim has committed a crime and profited from it. They then use video calling platforms to digitally arrest the victim and inform them that they need to access their account to remove the warrant. Once the money is transferred, the scammers stop responding.
In this case, the scammers contacted the victim pretending to be police officers, stating that she was involved in a money laundering case. They also mentioned an IPS officer in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the founder of a grounded airline. The scammers claimed that an FIR had been registered and an arrest warrant had been issued the Supreme Court.
The victim was told that her account had been used for a ₹2 crore transfer for which she had received commission. After being persuaded that she was innocent and in need of transferring her money to prove it, the woman ended up transferring approximately ₹11.11 lakh, including a ₹3 lakh loan taken for the purpose.
Inspector Reeta Yadav, in-charge of the cyber crime police station in Noida, warned people to be aware that the police never question anyone digitally. If confronted with such threats, people should request proper notices, ask for details, and if necessary, offer to meet at the police station.
The rise in online scams in India is an alarming trend, with new tactics being employed criminals to deceive people. This digital arrest scam is one of several that have victimized individuals in the country. As awareness grows, it is imperative that people remain vigilant and informed about these fraudulent activities.