Kasaragod, Kerala: An 80-year-old doctor from Kasaragod allegedly lost Rs 1.19 crore after cyber fraudsters impersonating Mumbai Crime Branch officials placed him under a fake “digital arrest” and threatened him with a money laundering case.
According to the Kasaragod Cyber Police, the alleged fraud took place between November 24 and December 17, 2025. The accused reportedly contacted the doctor through phone calls and WhatsApp video calls, claiming that his name was linked to a money laundering case.
The fraudsters allegedly told the doctor that he had been placed under “digital arrest” and pressured him to transfer money to different bank accounts to “clear his name”. Following their instructions, the victim reportedly transferred Rs 1,19,35,000 from multiple bank accounts.
The doctor later approached the Kasaragod Cyber Police, who registered a case and began investigating the money trail and the people allegedly involved in the fraud.
During the investigation, police found that one of the alleged accused, identified as Shamsad Choorakuth, a native of Malattur in Malappuram, was working abroad. A Lookout Circular was subsequently issued against him.
On September 17, immigration authorities reportedly detained Shamsad after he arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. A Kasaragod Cyber Police team then travelled to Hyderabad and took him into custody.
The accused was later produced before the Kasaragod Chief Judicial Magistrate Court and was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.
Digital arrest scams typically involve fraudsters posing as police officers or other government officials and using threats, video calls and prolonged surveillance to intimidate victims into transferring money. Police have repeatedly warned that no legitimate law enforcement agency places individuals under “digital arrest” or demands money to clear a case.
