Retired Indian army colonel duped of Rs 15.5 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ scam
New Delhi: A retired Indian Army colonel was allegedly duped of Rs 15.50 lakh in a “digital arrest” cyber-fraud after fraudsters posing as police and enforcement officials threatened him with fabricated money-laundering and terrorism charges.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Delhi police arrested four people from Punjab and Rajasthan for allegedly supplying mule bank accounts to cyber-fraud syndicates linked to operators in Cambodia and the UAE/Dubai. Four mobile phones and six SIM cards were also recovered.
Police said the bank account into which the retired colonel transferred the money was linked to 17 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) across multiple Indian states and Union territories. The complaints involved fraudulent transactions running into crores of rupees, indicating that the account was part of a wider cyber-fraud network.
“The case came to light after the retired colonel filed a complaint through the NCRP alleging that he had been cheated of Rs 15.50 lakh,” a senior police officer said.
The victim, a resident of Munirka Enclave in New Delhi, received a call on April 15 claiming his phone connection would be disconnected on Maharashtra Police orders. He was later told by a fake police officer that his details had been used to open an illegal bank account in Mumbai allegedly linked to money laundering, investment fraud and terrorist financing.
To make the scam appear genuine, the fraudsters allegedly sent forged documents, including a fake Enforcement Directorate arrest warrant, court papers and fabricated communications purportedly from the Bombay High Court and Reserve Bank of India.
The victim and his wife were then placed under “digital arrest” and subjected to sustained psychological pressure. He was allegedly forced to disclose his assets and transfer Rs 15.50 lakh on the pretext of complying with fake RBI instructions.
Police traced the money to a Ludhiana bank account and arrested Sarbjit, Suraj, Sandeep and Naresh alias Lucky. Further investigation is underway.
