Vuyyuru Police Foil Sophisticated Digital Arrest Scam Targeting Senior Citizens
In a remarkable display of vigilance, the Vuyyuru town police in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, successfully intervened to protect an elderly couple from becoming victims of a highly sophisticated digital arrest scam. This fraudulent scheme was orchestrated by cybercriminals operating from a foreign country, who utilized an Indian mobile number to execute their deceptive tactics.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to official reports from the police, the incident began on the morning of February 18, when cyberfraudsters, posing as officers from the Mumbai crime branch, initiated a WhatsApp video call with the victims. The targets were Kota Siva Shankar, a 70-year-old retired accountant, and his wife, a retired school teacher, who were alone at their residence near AG & SG College in Vuyyuru.
The impostors falsely alleged that a sum of Rs 25 lakh had been laundered using the couple's Aadhaar credentials. To intensify the fear, they claimed that a warrant for their arrest had been issued by the Supreme Court. In a bid to add credibility to their threats, the fraudsters even arranged a video call with an individual impersonating a Supreme Court judge, creating a facade of legal authority.
Police Intervention and Swift Action
The cyber fraudster, dressed in a police uniform, maintained a continuous video call with the elderly couple for nearly 24 hours, coercively warning that disconnecting the call would result in immediate arrest by local authorities. However, a technical network glitch around noon on Thursday caused the WhatsApp video call to disconnect unexpectedly.
Seizing this opportunity, the couple promptly informed a trusted well-wisher about the harrowing ordeal. This individual immediately alerted the Vuyyuru police, setting in motion a rapid response. Vuyyuru Circle Inspector TVV Rama Rao recounted the events, stating, "Upon receiving the alert, I informed my senior officers and rushed to the couple's residence. Noticing the ongoing video call, I attempted to interact with the person claiming to be a Mumbai crime branch SP. The impostor, upon seeing uniformed police personnel on screen, immediately disconnected the call and went offline."
Significance of the Incident
CI Rao emphasized that this case marks a pioneering instance in India where police directly intervened to prevent victims from succumbing to an ongoing digital arrest attempt. Such scams exploit technology to intimidate and defraud vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly, through prolonged psychological manipulation.
In the aftermath, a video documenting this incident has gone viral on social media platforms, highlighting the dangers of digital fraud and the critical role of community awareness. The Vuyyuru police's proactive measures underscore the importance of swift law enforcement responses in combating cybercrime and protecting citizens from evolving threats in the digital age.
