Mumbai: The police are on the lookout for unknown scammers who duped a senior citizen couple in a digital arrest fraud and extorted over Rs 2 crore from them.
According to the police, the complainant (68) is a resident of Badlapur. On April 24, the complainant received a phone call from a person who claimed to be a sub-inspector from Colaba police station. The scammer told the complainant that his name has cropped up in a money laundering and black money case investigation.
Few more persons spoke to the complainant posing as policemen and asked the complainant to share his live location for the next 24 hours. They also used to make video calls to the complainant to keep a watch on his movements. The scammers also told the complainant that since he is a senior citizen the entire probe will be done online and won't be taken into physical custody.
The scammers told the complainant that even his wife has been kept under digital arrest and sought information regarding the investments made by the complainant. Thereafter, from April 30 till July 01, the scammers induced the complainant to transfer over Rs 2 crore in different beneficiary bank accounts in multiple online transactions on the pretext of getting their financial transactions verified.
On July 01, a person who posed as a judge also spoke to the complainant over a video call who told the complainant that he and his wife are not found involved in any criminal activity and are being freed from digital surveillance. The scammers also assured the complainant that he would receive his money within 48 hours in his bank account.
However, when the complainant did not receive his money, he tried calling the scammers repeatedly. But when his calls remained unanswered, he realised that he had been scammed. He then raised his complaint on the cyber crime helpline following which a case has been registered in this regard by Thane police.
