Cyber Fraud in Mangaluru: Woman Loses Rs 3.16 Crore in 'Digital Arrest' Scam

Mangaluru (Karnataka), July 7 (PTI): A startling case of cyber fraud has emerged from Mangaluru, where a woman was duped of over Rs 3.16 crore by impostors masquerading as police officials who manipulated her under the guise of a "digital arrest", police reports reveal. After realizing the deceit, the 40-year-old victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, filed a formal complaint at the Cyber Economic and Narcotics Crime (CEN) police station. She recounted receiving a call on June 6 from an individual impersonating an officer from the National Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). The caller falsely claimed that a SIM card registered under her husband's name was being "misused". As the conversation progressed, it was transferred multiple times to individuals, one of whom pretended to be a public prosecutor. Over the next few weeks, the fraudsters extracted her personal and banking details, directing her to execute various fund transfers while promising that the money would be reimbursed upon verification. Starting with one impersonator and eventually involving multiple fraudsters, the scam unfolded between June 10 and 27, during which the unsuspecting woman transferred a staggering Rs 3.16 crore to different bank accounts specified by the culprits. It was only after confiding in her children that she approached the police, realizing she had fallen victim to the elaborate hoax. A formal case has been lodged, and a thorough investigation is currently in progress. Meanwhile, police have highlighted a similar fraud that surfaced recently in Hyderabad, urging the public to exercise caution when approached by unknown individuals posing as "law enforcement authorities". The concept of a "digital arrest" capitalizes on fear, enabling scammers to seize control of a person's digital footprint and extort financial or personal data.

By adopting the guise of law enforcement or government officials, scammers maintain relentless video surveillance over victims through platforms like Skype, until their monetary or data demands are met.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)