A retired engineer and his wife in Bengaluru have been duped of ₹4.79 crore in a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam. The Bengaluru police have arrested two individuals, Eshwar Singh and Narayan Singh Chaudhary, in connection with the fraud, which involved an international cybercrime network spanning India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia.
According to the police, the couple was targeted and placed under "digital arrest" for approximately two and a half months. The fraudsters, posing as government officials, convinced the couple that their credit card bills were overdue and that they were implicated in money laundering cases registered with the CBI and ED. They further threatened the couple with imprisonment in Tihar Jail and issued fake arrest warrants to intimidate them.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast), Sarah Fatima, revealed that the couple, who previously worked in Nigeria, were coerced into transferring ₹4.79 crore to various accounts under the guise of legal compliance. The victims were led to believe they were complying with legal procedures and were unaware of the manipulation. They even pledged their property papers without informing their children, who reside separately in Malleswaram and Hebbal.
The investigation gained momentum when Chennai's cybercrime unit, working on an unrelated case, alerted Bengaluru police about a potential victim in the city. Tracing ₹10 lakh of the defrauded amount to a Hyderabad resident's bank account led to the arrest of Eshwar Singh and Narayan Singh Chaudhary.
Reportedly, Eshwar Singh is a casino enthusiast. Police discovered that Singh had fled to Sri Lanka. A lookout circular was issued, leading to his detention at Hyderabad airport upon his return. Police verification revealed that he had visited a Sri Lankan casino 33 times in recent months. He claimed the funds were legitimate casino refunds. Narayan Singh Chaudhary runs a departmental store in Hyderabad. ₹10 lakh was recovered from Singh and ₹1.08 crore from Chaudhary's bank accounts.
The police are investigating whether the casino has ties to international cybercrime networks, particularly with operations in Cambodia. The cybercriminals may have instructed the couple to transfer the funds to the same account Singh had provided to the casino.
Cyber law expert and advocate Pawan Duggal explained that "digital arrest" is a tactic used to instill fear and panic in victims, leading to extortion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also cautioned the public about digital arrest frauds, emphasizing that no government agency would contact individuals via phone or video call for such investigations. The Centre has issued warnings about widespread cyber scams involving fraudulent letters threatening "digital arrest" unless demands are met.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the increasing prevalence and sophistication of cyber fraud, particularly targeting vulnerable senior citizens. Law enforcement officials urge the public to exercise caution, verify information before acting, and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
