Bengaluru man falls prey to digital arrest scam, loses Rs 32 crore to fake CBI, RBI officials

Bengaluru (The Uttam Hindu): A shocking cyber fraud case has come to light in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. A man was threatened and defrauded of approximately ₹32 crore (approximately ₹32 crore) under the pretext of digital arrest. The victim has filed a police complaint. The fraud began on September 15, 2024, and continued for several months. The fraudsters, using the names of the CBI, Cyber ​​Crime, and the RBI, confined the victim to his home. At 11 a.m. on September 15, the victim received a call. The caller identified himself as a DHL employee. He said, "You have booked a package from the Andheri DHL Center in Mumbai. The package contains 3 credit cards, 4 passports, and drugs (MDMA)."

The victim said, "I haven't even been to Mumbai; I live in Bengaluru." The fraudster replied, "This is cybercrime. Your name, address, and phone number have been used." Then, without further ado, the call was transferred to someone claiming to be from the CBI. The person claiming to be from the CBI threatened, "The evidence is against you. You are responsible. If you tell the local police or seek help from a lawyer, your life is in danger. The criminals are watching your house." He added, "Don't tell your family anything, or they will be implicated too." The victim's son was getting married, so he was scared and didn't tell anyone.

The fraudsters asked him to download the Skype app. One person posing as Mohit Handa said, "Keep the camera on, you're under house arrest." The victim was kept under surveillance for two days. Then, he was introduced to a supposed CBI officer named Pradeep Singh via video call. Pradeep Singh behaved well, but also intimidated him. Then, another person named Rahul Yadav arrived, who monitored him via Skype for a week. Out of fear, the victim stayed away from home and worked from home. On September 23rd, a video call was arranged at a hotel. The fraudsters knew the victim's location and every phone call. This further frightened him. Then, they were told, "To prove your innocence, we'll have to have your assets audited by the RBI." They showed him fake letters signed by Nitin Patel, a cybercrime expert.

The victim was asked to provide a list of all his assets and deposit 90% of the money to have his name removed from bank accounts. From September 24th to October 22nd, the victim provided details of all his assets. A security deposit of ₹2 crore was then demanded, which was deposited between October 24th and November 3rd. A tax demand of ₹2.4 crore was then made, which was paid by November 18, 2024. This resulted in a total fraud of ₹32 crore.

The alleged clearance letter was received on December 1, 2024. The victim's son's engagement took place on December 6. However, the victim fell ill due to the fear and stress of the fraud. He was bedridden for over a month. Doctors provided mental and physical treatment. Even during this time, updates were required via Skype. The fraudsters said, "All the money would be returned by February 25, 2025." But later, they began demanding tax payments again.

The victim eventually became suspicious and filed a police complaint. Police said this is a new method of digital arrest fraud. Scammers use foreign numbers, Skype, and fake documents. Police warned against being alarmed by unknown calls. The CBI or police never demand money over the phone. Inform your family or the police immediately.