3 days ago
Mumbai cyber cops recover Rs 1.3 crore elderly doctor lost to digital arrest scam
Mumbai: The crime branch's cyber helpline team recover Rs 1.29 crore that was fraudulently extorted from a 73-year-old doctor from Vile Parle in an elaborate "digital arrest" scam.
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The team managed to freeze the Rs 1.29 crore before it could be siphoned off by the perpetrators. Police said this became possible because the victim called up the police within the golden hour.
On June 4, the elderly victim dialled 1930, the cyber helpline number, complaining that he had been duped by fraudsters who impersonated TRAI officials, police officers, and judges. He said that over a series of video calls, the scammers falsely linked his name and bank account to alleged financial irregularities in an airline case, threatening him with a so-called "digital arrest".
Police said that intimidated and misled, the doctor transferred a total of Rs 2.89 crore through five transactions across June 2 and June 4 into bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters. DCP Purshottam Chavan (cyber) said that when the victim realised that he was conned, he immediately called up the the helpline. The police team, led by PSU officers Mangesh Bhor, Nivrutti Bavaskar, Abhijit Raul, Kiran Patil, MPOS Minal Rane, and Sonali Kakad, sprang into action and saved his Rs 1.29 crore.
"We are also in the process of retrieving the remaining amount," he added.
