A 73-year-old retired private company official from Coimbatore narrowly escaped a digital arrest scam where fraudsters posing as CBI officers demanded Rs 42 lakh. Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police warn citizens about the increasing trend of such scams and urge people not to fall prey to such threats.
Coimbatore: In a recent incident highlighting the growing menace of digital arrest scams in the city, a 73-year-old retired private company official became a target of sophisticated fraudsters who attempted to extort Rs 42 lakh from him.
The elderly resident received a phone call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer calling from Mumbai. The caller alleged that authorities had discovered illegal transactions from his bank account linked to drug trafficking and cannabis smuggling operations. The caller claimed that money from the senior citizen's account had been sent to individuals involved in these illegal activities.
The fraudster then informed the victim that he had been placed under "digital arrest" while remaining at home. He was told he would only be released after paying a penalty of Rs 42 lakh. When the elderly man questioned why he should pay a fine when he had not sent money to anyone, the scammers escalated their tactics.
Shortly after, the same person appeared on a video call wearing what appeared to be a police uniform, with backgrounds resembling a police station. The imposter threatened that armed police personnel had been deployed near his residence for surveillance. He warned the victim not to leave his house until the Rs 42 lakh penalty was paid, threatening arrest at gunpoint if he ventured outside
However, the alert senior citizen did not fall for the deception. He disconnected the call and immediately contacted the Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police. The police officials clarified that there is no such thing as "digital arrest" and advised him not to believe such threats or send any money to the fraudsters. The victim was greatly relieved after speaking with the police. The Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police have initiated an investigation into this incident.
Speaking about the case, Cyber Crime Police officials stated that digital arrest is completely fictitious. They emphasized that if police need to arrest someone, officers will physically visit the person's residence to make the arrest. Cases of fraudsters threatening people with digital arrest to extort money are on the rise in Coimbatore.
The police warned that no genuine police officer would ever ask citizens to transfer money from their bank accounts to another account, regardless of the pretext. They urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious about such scams. If anyone receives threatening calls of this nature, they should immediately contact the nearest police station or the Cyber Crime Police.
The Coimbatore City Police Department has also released a short film on digital arrest scams to create awareness among citizens. Through various awareness campaigns, the police are educating the public about these sophisticated fraud schemes and how to protect themselves from falling victim to such scams.
The elderly resident received a phone call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer calling from Mumbai. The caller alleged that authorities had discovered illegal transactions from his bank account linked to drug trafficking and cannabis smuggling operations. The caller claimed that money from the senior citizen's account had been sent to individuals involved in these illegal activities.
The fraudster then informed the victim that he had been placed under "digital arrest" while remaining at home. He was told he would only be released after paying a penalty of Rs 42 lakh. When the elderly man questioned why he should pay a fine when he had not sent money to anyone, the scammers escalated their tactics.
Shortly after, the same person appeared on a video call wearing what appeared to be a police uniform, with backgrounds resembling a police station. The imposter threatened that armed police personnel had been deployed near his residence for surveillance. He warned the victim not to leave his house until the Rs 42 lakh penalty was paid, threatening arrest at gunpoint if he ventured outside
However, the alert senior citizen did not fall for the deception. He disconnected the call and immediately contacted the Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police. The police officials clarified that there is no such thing as "digital arrest" and advised him not to believe such threats or send any money to the fraudsters. The victim was greatly relieved after speaking with the police. The Coimbatore City Cyber Crime Police have initiated an investigation into this incident.
Speaking about the case, Cyber Crime Police officials stated that digital arrest is completely fictitious. They emphasized that if police need to arrest someone, officers will physically visit the person's residence to make the arrest. Cases of fraudsters threatening people with digital arrest to extort money are on the rise in Coimbatore.
The police warned that no genuine police officer would ever ask citizens to transfer money from their bank accounts to another account, regardless of the pretext. They urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious about such scams. If anyone receives threatening calls of this nature, they should immediately contact the nearest police station or the Cyber Crime Police.
The Coimbatore City Police Department has also released a short film on digital arrest scams to create awareness among citizens. Through various awareness campaigns, the police are educating the public about these sophisticated fraud schemes and how to protect themselves from falling victim to such scams.