In yet another case of fake digital arrest scam, a 52-year-old businessman from Noida was duped of Rs 5 lakh. This complex scam is similar to the fake parcel or fake advertisement scam cases we shared earlier, wherein the scammers call the victims posing as CBI officers and tell them that some illegal activity has been detected in the name of the victim. They then keep the victim on the call to make further threats and finally, either take the account details or directly demand money from the victim on the pretext of further action.

According to a Hindustan Times report, a Noida man, identified as Naveen Kumar Anand, living in Sector 62, received a call on the afternoon of June 5. The caller claimed to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch and insisted that he was taking Kumar under digital arrest – he asked him not to leave the call in front of the video camera – because his name was found involved in a drug trafficking and money laundering case. The fake cop threatened Kumar to pay a certain amount of money, else he would issue an arrest warrant in his name.

Under heavy pressure and fear of legal repercussions, Anand caved in to the scammer’s demands. The fraudster instructed Kumar to transfer all his funds to a specified bank account. The scammer assured him that this was a temporary measure required to prove his innocence and avoid his bank accounts being frozen by the ‘Supreme Court Auditors’.

Kumar followed the instructions and transferred Rs 5 lakh to the given account, hoping to get the money back after verification. However, a week later Anand realised he had been cheated. He did not get the promised money back, following which he approached the police station.

Though this case seems similar to other reports of people losing money to fraudsters impersonating police, it highlights how even educated people are falling prey to these fraudsters and trusting calls from unknown persons. It also underlines the importance of awareness and caution in dealing with unsolicited calls, especially those related to financial transactions.

To avoid falling prey to similar scams, it is advisable not to share personal or financial information over the phone, especially with unknown callers. Remember:

• If someone calls claiming to be a law enforcement officer and demands money, hang up.
• Look for the official contact details of the agency they claim to be associated with, and call them directly to verify the story.
• Inform the police about the call and the number used. You can also report it online on a cyber crime reporting website.
• Never give out your bank account information, Social Security number, or other sensitive details over the phone.
• If something looks suspicious, it probably is. Take a step back, verify the information, and don’t be afraid to end the call.