A money trail from a Rs 67.30 lakh digital arrest fraud helped Delhi Police identify and reach another potential victim just in time, preventing her from losing more of her savings to cyber fraudsters.
The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police was investigating a complaint filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal after Rs 67,30,300 was allegedly transferred by a victim on September 20.
During the investigation, the police traced the movement of the defrauded money to a mule account maintained with Axis Bank. The account was registered in the name of a private limited company based in Nagori, Karnataka.
Further analysis of transactions linked to the account led investigators to a savings account with South Indian Bank. Police initially suspected that the account could be another mule account being used by the fraud network. However, a closer examination indicated that it belonged to a genuine individual who may have been unknowingly targeted by the same cybercrime network.
The account holder was traced to Janakpuri in West Delhi. An IFSO team, including Inspector Parveen Kumar, reached her residence and found that she was a senior citizen living alone.
Police said the woman was already being subjected to a digital arrest when the team reached her. She was reportedly under severe distress after fraudsters allegedly convinced her that her Aadhaar details had been linked to money laundering and that her bank account had been connected to a blast case in Jammu and Kashmir.
The scammers reportedly posed as officials and threatened to freeze her bank accounts. They allegedly pressured her into transferring around Rs 60 lakh.
A senior police officer said the woman received a call from a woman claiming to be from the CBI and was told that all her bank accounts would be frozen. The fraudsters then allegedly made her transfer the money.
The police intervention prevented the woman from transferring additional funds and helped protect other financial assets, including mutual funds and shares.
The IFSO team coordinated with the Janakpuri police station, following which a beat constable was sent to the woman’s residence. She was subsequently assisted in filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930.
Police said further legal action is underway, including the e-FIR process and efforts to trace and freeze the transferred funds.
Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters impersonating police officers, CBI officials, Enforcement Directorate officials, customs officers or other government authorities. Victims are falsely told that they are involved in a criminal case and are threatened with arrest or other legal action.
Fraudsters often keep victims on phone or video calls for extended periods and use intimidation to prevent them from contacting family members or seeking help. They then pressure victims into transferring money or sharing sensitive financial and personal information.
