Cyberfraud: Elderly man loses Rs 11 crore

Kochi: Ernakulam rural cyberpolice on Tuesday registered an FIR based on the complaint of a 75-year-old Puthencruz resident, who lost Rs 11.51 crore in cyberfraud.

As per the complaint, the scamsters contacted the complainant through a WhatsApp call, addressing themselves as purchase coordinator, chairperson and managing director of a company named Scotland and Brithox.

They said the company was in need of ‘Oxide chemical oil’ and that if he purchased the oil for them, he would be given 50% of the profit. The complainant transferred the money from six bank accounts of himself and his son. The alleged scam occurred between Oct 2023 and Dec 2025.

Police registered the FIR under relevant sections of BNS and IT Act.

Man held for manipulating woman’s image: A 27-year-old man was arrested for editing and circulating a woman’s photo on Tuesday.

The arrested person was identified as Basil Saju, 27, of Kunnakkal, Vazhakulam. He allegedly manipulated a woman’s photo and converted it into an explicit video. The accused then spread it on social media, police said.

He was arrested by a team led by Muvattupuzha police inspector Anil George. The investigation team included SIs M V Dilip Kumar, N S Roy and S Sreenath. The accused was presented in court and remanded in judicial custody.