Woman loses Rs 1.16 crore in WhatsApp “digital arrest” scam, case registered in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: In a shocking case of cybercrime, a woman from Bantwal has fallen victim to a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam, losing a staggering Rs 1.16 crore after being intimidated by fraudsters posing as Delhi police and CBI officers over WhatsApp video calls. The Mangaluru CEN (Cyber Economic and Narcotics) police have registered a case and begun investigations.
According to the complaint, the incident began on September 24 when the victim received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be from the Telecommunication Department in Delhi, alleging that her Aadhaar and PAN details were used to purchase a mobile SIM involved in sending illegal promotional and harassing messages in the national capital.
When the woman denied the accusations, the call was “transferred” to another man dressed in a police uniform who introduced himself as Vijay Kumar, a Delhi police officer from the CBI department. The impersonator accused her of involvement in human trafficking and money laundering and claimed that ₹10 lakh in “commission money” from a criminal network had been deposited into her account.
The fraudsters then threatened to arrest her immediately and freeze her assets unless she complied with their instructions. Under duress, the victim revealed her bank details and transferred funds to accounts provided by the scammers. She was further warned not to share the matter with anyone, as it was a “national security issue.”
Between September 29 and October 10, she transferred a total of Rs 1.16 crore, including proceeds from a property sale she had kept as a fixed deposit.
Police said the complaint has been registered under various sections related to cheating, criminal intimidation, and cyber fraud. Dakshina Kannada police have urged citizens to be cautious and verify any calls claiming to be from government or enforcement agencies, stressing that “digital arrests” have no legal validity.
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