28-Year-Old Software Engineer Falls Victim to Elaborate Cyber Fraud
In a shocking incident, a 28-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru lost over Rs 1.2 crore in a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam. The victim, identified as Keerthana (name changed), was coerced into transferring her savings and taking a loan to pay the fraudsters. According to The Indian Express, the scam began with an automated call from an international number claiming to be from DHL courier services.
Scammers Use Fake Legal Threats to Extract Money
The fraudsters informed Keerthana that a parcel in her name contained illegal items, including fake passports and ATM cards, and directed her to contact a Mumbai police station. Soon after, a man posing as “Mumbai Crime Branch officer Sunil Datt Dubey” accused her of involvement in a money laundering scheme worth $10.9 million (Rs 93.89 crore) and issued a ‘digital arrest’ order.
Victim Coerced into Liquidating Assets and Taking Loan
Believing her cooperation was essential, Keerthana liquidated her investments, transferring Rs 75.63 lakh to the fraudsters. They then demanded an additional Rs 55.87 lakh as a bond payment for her property. Unable to meet the demand, she borrowed Rs 40 lakh and added Rs 5 lakh from her remaining savings to pay the fraudsters.
False Promises and Realization of the Scam
The scammers promised a refund once the ‘case’ was resolved but vanished, cutting all communication. Realizing the scam, Keerthana reported the fraud to the police, who have begun an investigation.
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