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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Bomb threat prompts security sweep at Lourdes Central School in Mangaluru
Mangaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): A bomb threat email sent to Lourdes Central School on Thursday triggered a major security operation, with police and bomb disposal squads conducting a thorough search of the premises, authorities said.
The email, received late on Wednesday night, warned that a bomb would explode at 9 am.
Upon receiving the alert, personnel from the Kadri Police Station rushed to the school along with the bomb detection and disposal squad.
A comprehensive inspection of the campus was carried out, police said.
Dog squad teams were also deployed to assist in the search operation to ensure that no suspicious object was left unchecked, a senior police officer said.
Authorities said similar threat emails have recently been sent to other locations in the state, including the Dharwad Court Complex and the Mangaluru Court, prompting heightened vigilance.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the sender names used in the emails appear to trace back to Tamil Nadu, though the authenticity of the identities is yet to be verified.
Further investigation is underway.
