Bank manager’s alertness saves elderly couple from ‘digital arrest’ scam

Mangaluru: A major cyber fraud attempt was foiled in Mangaluru after a bank manager acted swiftly to stop scammers from siphoning off Rs 84 lakh from an elderly couple who had been trapped in a “digital arrest” scam.

Benddick Fernandes (84) and Lily Cecily Fernandes (71), residents of Damasakatte in Mulki, received a WhatsApp call on December 1 from fraudsters posing as officers of the Uttar Pradesh CID. The scammers falsely accused the couple of involvement in a ₹6-crore financial fraud and coerced them into a digital arrest, preventing them from disconnecting the call and manipulating them psychologically.

Claiming that their bank accounts were under investigation, the cybercriminals instructed the couple to transfer the money from their fixed deposits to another account for “verification.” Acting under fear, the couple went to the Canara Bank branch in Kinnigoli to transfer ₹84 lakh to the account provided by the scammers.

However, the alert branch manager, Royston, became suspicious when the couple could not provide a clear reason for the high-value transfer. Instead of processing the transaction, he immediately contacted local beat constable Yashavanth Kumar and intelligence staffer Kishore.

Mulki police reached the couple’s residence, examined their mobile phone, and confirmed they were under digital arrest. Police advised the bank not to proceed with the transfer and counselled the elderly couple, successfully preventing the fraud.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Reddy stated that the fraudsters had trapped the couple for several days and attempted to drain their fixed deposits. He praised the bank manager and the police team for their timely intervention, which helped save the couple’s life savings. Police have initiated a detailed investigation into the scam.

Alsdo Read: Rahul Jarkiholi appointed Belagavi Apex Bank representative, Jarkiholi family asserts district influence