In a significant crackdown, the Madurai District Cybercrime Police have apprehended six individuals in connection with a sophisticated online fraud that siphoned off a staggering Rs 68.17 lakh from a 78-year-old man. The arrests were made from locations in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, and Malappuram, Kerala, following a detailed investigation into the 'digital arrest' scam.
The Anatomy of the 'Digital Arrest' Fraud
The elaborate scam unfolded on November 10, when the elderly victim, a resident of Thirumangalam, received a WhatsApp call. The caller, posing as a Mumbai police official named Vijay Kanna, falsely claimed that a serious case had been registered against the man and his wife concerning a large, suspicious bank transaction.
The fraudster informed the senior citizen that he was being placed under 'digital arrest' and needed to cooperate with the investigation. Under this guise of authority and threat, the scammer persuaded the victim to transfer money to a specified bank account for 'verification purposes'. Trusting the caller's claims, the 78-year-old man transferred two massive sums – Rs 7.45 lakh and Rs 60.72 lakh – in quick succession. Immediately after the transactions were completed, the fraudster switched off his phone, severing all contact.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The victim subsequently approached the district cybercrime unit, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on November 17. A special police team was formed to track the stolen funds.
The breakthrough came when investigators traced a portion of the money to a bank account belonging to the wife of Umar Farook (28) from Gudalur. His arrest and subsequent confession led the police to Faisal Heq (49) from Malappuram, Kerala. The investigative net widened, resulting in the arrests of four more accused: Muhammed Riyash (29) from Gudalur, and Abdul Gafoor (43), Muhammed Syed (34), and Muhammed Shameem (34) from Malappuram.
Police revealed that Muhammed Shameem played a specific role in the criminal chain by converting the illicitly obtained money into cryptocurrency, a common tactic used to obscure the trail of stolen funds. Authorities suspect the involvement of a broader inter-state network and have stated that the investigation is ongoing to uncover all links.
Official Warning and Public Advisory
Madurai District Superintendent of Police, B K Aravind, explicitly labeled this modus operandi as a 'digital arrest' scam. He explained that criminals impersonate government or law enforcement officials to create a false sense of urgency and fear, coercing victims into transferring money.
SP Aravind issued a strong advisory to the public, urging extreme caution when receiving calls from unknown numbers. He emphasized that no genuine government official would ever demand money transfers for case verification or to avoid arrest over the phone. 'If you suspect any fraudulent activity, report it immediately to the national cybercrime helpline number 1930,' he added, stressing the importance of swift reporting to help authorities freeze accounts and track criminals.
