Kolkata Senior Loses Rs 89.8 Lakh in Elaborate Digital Arrest Scam
A 70-year-old resident of SP Sukhobristi in New Town, Kolkata, has become the latest victim of a sophisticated digital-arrest fraud, losing a staggering Rs 89.8 lakh to cyber criminals who used a forged Supreme Court order and conducted a virtual trial to intimidate him.
The Elaborate Scam Unfolds
According to the detailed complaint filed with authorities, the ordeal began on November 27 last year around 2 pm when the senior citizen received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as "Arun Kumar Gupta", claiming to be a telecom department official. He alleged that the victim's mobile number had been misused using Aadhaar details to obtain another SIM card, which was supposedly involved in a crime against a woman.
Soon after this unsettling call, the man received another communication from a different number belonging to another mobile service operator. This time, the caller identified himself as "Sandip Rao, IPS", posing as a senior police officer who continued the narrative that the victim was under serious investigation.
Escalation to Forged Supreme Court Documents
The situation escalated dramatically later that evening when a third call arrived from yet another number. During this communication, the fraudsters claimed the victim's name was linked to a major money laundering case involving a person identified as "Naresh Goyel". They asserted that a warrant of arrest had been issued by the Supreme Court against the Kolkata resident.
Police sources indicate the scammers specifically alleged that Goyal, the owner of the now-defunct Jet Airways, had implicated the victim, claiming he had used "an account under investigation and linked to Goyal". This marked a significant escalation in the sophistication of the fraud scheme.
The Virtual Hearing and Digital Arrest
In what represents a departure from more common cyber fraud patterns, the criminals allegedly escalated the psychological pressure by staging what the complainant described as a "virtual hearing". During this online interaction, the accused purportedly presented a forged Supreme Court order and conducted a mock trial, after which they declared that the victim was officially "digitally arrested".
Following this declaration, the fraudsters kept the man under continuous surveillance through persistent calls and online communication, using fear and intimidation tactics to prevent him from contacting family members, friends, or legitimate authorities.
Financial Exploitation and Money Transfers
Under this sustained psychological pressure, the victim was coerced into disclosing sensitive bank account details and other financial information. He received instructions to transfer funds to accounts provided by the accused, with the bank details allegedly shared through WhatsApp from a fourth phone number.
Acting under the fraudsters' instructions, the man transferred Rs 87.8 lakh from his public sector bank account and an additional Rs 2 lakh from his private account, bringing the total loss to Rs 89.8 lakh.
Discovery and Police Action
The complainant only realized he had been cheated when the callers abruptly stopped responding to his communications. He subsequently filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and approached the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime police station, where a formal case was registered on January 23.
This incident highlights the evolving sophistication of cyber crimes targeting vulnerable citizens, particularly seniors who may be less familiar with digital fraud tactics. The use of forged Supreme Court documents and virtual court proceedings represents a concerning escalation in criminal methodology that authorities are now investigating thoroughly.
