77-year-old Mumbai resident loses Rs 50 lakh in digital arrest scam

Mumbai: A 77-year-old Ghatkopar resident was duped of Rs 50 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in a digital arrest scam, according to an FIR registered at East Region Cyber Police Station.The complainant, a labour law advisor residing in Garodia Nagar, told police that between May 12 and 14, he received calls from men identifying themselves as senior ED officials from Delhi Vijay Khanna, Sandeep Yadav and Rahul Gupta. According to the FIR, the fraudsters told the victim that a bank account had allegedly been opened in Delhi using his Aadhaar card and was being used for illegal financial transactions. They claimed that the Supreme Court had issued orders for his arrest and seizure of his assets.Police said the accused allegedly threatened the senior citizen with legal action and harm, while also instructing him not to disclose the matter to anyone. The victim was allegedly made to participate in WhatsApp video calls impersonating court proceedings and ED officials.Fearing arrest and danger to his life, the victim withdrew a fixed deposit of Rs 50 lakh from his bank account and transferred the amount through RTGS on May 14 to a bank account provided by the accused.The complainant later approached Pant Nagar police, where he learnt that he had fallen victim to a digital arrest scam. He lodged a complaint on the cybercrime helpline ‘1930' before the FIR was registered on May 15.