Fraudsters target senior citizen with fake digital-arrest threats
Times of India | 6 May 2025
123 Kolkata: Digital arrest fraudsters, posing as Mumbai Police officer, duped a senior citizen from Patuli-Baisnabghata. The victim said he was still calculating the exact amount of loss. He claimed that the accused took all his property- and bank-related details in a span of just nine hours. "The govt of India will deduct fines itself in due time," they allegedly said.
No money was asked for a "settlement" directly from the victim, according to the complaint letter accessed by TOI. Though the Patuli police registered a case, the district cyber cell, too, launched a parallel investigation.
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"On May 4, at 11.13 am, I received a call from an unknown number. I was informed that a phone number, which I am not even aware of, was registered using my Aadhaar number, and an account had been opened in my name with the Central Bank. Significant transactions were made from this account through one Naresh Goyel, but the money was laundered. They told me that an arrest warrant was issued against me for this. They took a photo of my Aadhaar card. They found out how much money is in each of my bank accounts and took all property details. All day, they did not allow me and my wife to leave the house. Around 8.30 pm, they said I was under digital arrest and wanted more details of my investments," the victim stated in the FIR.
The victim claimed that he initially received a call, where the caller said he was from the Delhi telecom department. Later, somebody made a WhatsApp video call, claiming that he was from the Mumbai investigation department. They kept him occupied all day. "I am a senior citizen and am innocent. I have no idea what will happen with all the information," the FIR stated.
The investigation so far has revealed there were attempts to transfer money through multiple accounts, but a major damage might have been averted as the victim approached cops immediately. Police managed to block all the accounts of the victim.