Ex-govt officer, 73, loses Rs 90 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Even as UP Police intensifies its statewide crusade to spread awareness against cybercrime and so-called “digital arrest” frauds, cybercriminals duped a 73-year-old retired govt officer in the state capital of nearly Rs 90 lakh by keeping him under psychological captivity for 25 days. The incident came to light on Thursday night. The victim, a retired officer from the state finance department and a resident of LDA colony, was allegedly threatened and coerced by cyber fraudsters who posed as officials of the Mumbai cybercrime cell and falsely accused him of being involved in a money laundering case.
According to police, the fraud began on Dec 1 when he received a video call from the impostor. The caller claimed that a money laundering case was registered against him and that a non-bailable arrest warrant was already issued against him from Mumbai.The fraudsters sent a forged court warrant via WhatsApp and warned that the ex-official and his family members could be sent to jail if he failed to cooperate. Terrified by the claims and the legal jargon used during the calls, the elderly man was told that he was being placed under “digital arrest” and must remain confined to his home while the so-called probe was underway.Police said the fraudsters extracted complete details of his bank accounts, fixed deposits, and other financial assets. Claiming that the funds needed to be “verified” as part of the probe, they demanded that nearly Rs 1 crore be transferred to accounts specified by them, assuring him that the money would be returned once he was “cleared”.Under fear and constant monitoring through repeated video and phone calls, the former officer allegedly transferred around Rs 90 lakh using UPI, RTGS, and by prematurely breaking fixed deposits. He did not share his ordeal with any family member during the 25-day period due to fear of arrest.The scam came to light on Dec 25, when his son—who works in Bengaluru—noticed his father speaking nervously on the phone and behaving unusually anxious. Despite initial evasiveness, sustained questioning later that evening led him to reveal the entire episode to his family.Lucknow cyber police inspector Brajesh Kumar Yadav said it was found that the defrauded amount was transferred to multiple bank accounts across different states.
