Trader takes 75.5L loan to pay crooks during 12-day digi-arrest
Times of India | 12 March 2025
12 Kolkata: A 41-year-old businessman dealing in switch gears reportedly fell victim to an organised digital arrest scam and lost Rs 75.5 lakh. The businessman, residing in the Sarsuna area of Behala, had taken the entire amount as business loan from a bank. He had made the payment to the fraudsters within a span of 12 days before his friends got wind of what was happening and told him that he was being duped.
The Sarsuna police have now registered an FIR and begun making recoveries. Sources said they expect to return at least a portion of the money to the businessman next week. The victim also lodged a complaint with the Union home ministry's dedicated helpline (1930) for cybercrime reporting.
The victim told TOI he first received a call on Feb 23 where the caller accused him of involvement in a money laundering case that had been registered in Mumbai's Colaba police station.
"I initially dismissed the claims," said the trader, whose company has a Rs 2 crore turnover.
"However, the accused claimed they were sending documents. I then started receiving calls alternatively from Mumbai Police and CBI. I was kept under constant surveillance between Feb 23 and March 7. Now, I feel that I had lapsed into a hypnotic state during this span of time," he said.
"The accused impersonating as CBI officers induced the complainant to pay Rs 75.5 lakh through RTGS/NEFT mode in various instalments from four bank accounts for his release from the so-called arrest," said DC (Behala-South West) Rahul De.
The businessman said he had stayed put indoors for three days due to the digital arrest. This case highlights the growing concern over cyber fraud targeting elderly citizens and the sophisticated methods employed by criminals to exploit vulnerable individuals through digital arrest, where over 70 percent of victims in Kolkata are elderly citizens.
Police authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of calls claiming to be from law enforcement agencies. Recent data from the home ministry indicates that investigation agencies are identifying approximately 4,000 mule accounts daily used for illegal fund transfers. The scale of the problem is substantial, with authorities freezing 4.5 lakh bank accounts in the past year due to involvement in cybercrime.