The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a nationwide crackdown on cybercrime networks allegedly involved in ‘digital arrest’ scams, carrying out coordinated searches at 89 locations across 20 states.
The operation, conducted as part of ‘Operation Chakra-VI’, relates to three cybercrime cases involving alleged fraud of ₹42.36 crore. The cases are linked to Gujarat, Pilani in Rajasthan and Karnataka.
According to officials, victims were allegedly kept under ‘digital arrest’ for weeks or months by fraudsters posing as police officers and other government officials. The victims were threatened with arrest over fabricated criminal cases and coerced into transferring large sums of money.
In one Gujarat case, a victim allegedly lost ₹19.24 crore after being kept under digital arrest for three months. Another victim in Rajasthan was allegedly defrauded of ₹7.67 crore, while a Karnataka victim reportedly lost ₹15.45 crore.
Three Arrested
During the searches, the CBI arrested three people accused of helping receive, layer and transfer the fraud proceeds.
One accused from Haryana allegedly received ₹1.95 crore into a bank account opened for the purpose and transferred the money to other accounts on the same day. Another accused from Kolkata allegedly received ₹1.5 crore through a firm’s bank account.
The third accused was allegedly involved in withdrawing part of the fraud proceeds in cash and transferring the remaining funds to other accounts to conceal their trail.
Investigators examined bank accounts, financial transactions and online account-access data to trace the flow of money and identify other members of the alleged syndicate.
The CBI said its investigation is continuing and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend additional members of the network.
What is a ‘digital arrest’ scam?
In these scams, criminals impersonate police officers, government officials or other enforcement authorities and falsely accuse victims of involvement in crimes. Victims are kept on prolonged video or phone calls and threatened with arrest unless they transfer money or follow the scammers’ instructions.
