Mangaluru man loses Rs 41.85 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraud
Mangaluru: A resident of Mangaluru has been cheated of Rs 41.85 lakh in a ‘digital arrest’ scam, following which a case has been registered at the CEN Police Station.
According to the complaint, the victim received a phone call on January 31 from a person who introduced himself as an officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch, claiming to be calling from New Delhi. The caller allegedly told the victim that a bank account had been opened in his name at Canara Bank using his identity documents and that the account was linked to a major financial fraud.
The fraudster further claimed that a Supreme Court warrant had been issued against the victim and threatened him with arrest if he did not cooperate. He was asked to join a WhatsApp video call for what was described as an official “investigation”. During the call, the victim was reportedly warned not to inform his family members and was made to share his personal and bank details.
On the pretext of verifying his bank accounts and clearing his name to avoid arrest, the accused allegedly instructed the victim to transfer money to specific bank accounts. Acting on these directions, the victim transferred Rs 41.85 lakh in multiple transactions between February 9 and February 18.
After realising that he had been duped, the victim approached the CEN Police Station and lodged a complaint.
Police have registered a case and begun an investigation into the cyber fraud.
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Online fraud: Hotel chef from Udupi cheated of over Rs 1 lakh by WhatsApp contact
Udupi: Udupi City Police have registered a case of online fraud after a 62-year-old hotel chef was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.13 lakh by a woman who befriended him on WhatsApp, claiming to be based in London.
The victim, identified as Pandu Kariappa Poojary, a resident of Kuthpadi in Udupi, was working at a hotel in Mangaluru.
He reportedly came into contact with a woman identifying herself as Emilda William on WhatsApp. During their interactions, she told Poojary that she planned to start a cosmetics and hotel business in India and would meet him during a visit to Mangaluru.
On April 7, Emilda sent Poojary a flight ticket from London to Delhi via WhatsApp. The following day, Poojary received a phone call from a woman who informed him that Emilda had arrived at Delhi airport carrying a demand draft worth Rs 5 crore along with other items. The caller allegedly asked him to pay Rs 70,000.
Subsequently, Poojary also received a call from Emilda, who was reportedly crying and spoke about the situation. Believing the claims, he transferred a total of Rs 1,13,300 in phases using a scanner. He later realised that he had been cheated.
