Surat, June 9 – In a shocking case that highlights the growing reach of cybercrime, a senior citizen in Surat was defrauded of more than Rs 16 lakh by scammers posing as Delhi Police officials in what is being referred to as a "digital arrest" scam. The victim was manipulated via a video call, falsely accused of involvement in a Rs 2.5 crore money laundering case, and coerced into transferring funds over two days.
As per report, the fraudsters convinced the elderly man that he was being digitally detained, forcing him to liquidate his bank fixed deposits and transfer a total of Rs 16.65 lakh to various accounts. The incident came to light only after the victim confided in his daughter, who immediately reported the matter to the cyber crime cell.
Following an investigation based on bank transaction details, police arrested three individuals, including a 22-year-old international basketball player from Bhavnagar named Paramveer Singh, along with 38-year-old Raju Parmar and Krishna Kumar. Authorities revealed that the accused had complaints of cyber fraud filed against them across 18 different states.
According to officials, the gang would typically impersonate officers from agencies such as cyber crime units, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), customs departments, or local police forces. They would contact victims via audio or video calls, falsely claim that the individual was involved in illegal activities like sending or receiving parcels containing banned items such as drugs, fake passports, or other contraband.
Victims were then forced to stay connected on video conferencing platforms like Skype, under the pretense of ongoing legal action. During these digital interactions, the scammers would demand money to "settle" the issue and prevent legal consequences. Using fear as their primary weapon, they often succeeded in extorting large sums from unsuspecting individuals.
This case from Surat adds to the growing list of similar scams being reported across India, emphasizing the urgent need for greater awareness and caution among citizens when dealing with unsolicited or suspicious digital communication claiming to be from government agencies.
