A 62-year-old retired employee from Nashik allegedly lost Rs 1.6 crore after cyber fraudsters trapped him in a “digital arrest” scam by posing as officials investigating a fake financial crime case.
According to police officials, the scammers first contacted the victim claiming that a bank account had been opened using his Aadhaar and PAN details. They then falsely accused him of being linked to terror funding and money laundering activities.
Fearing legal action, the elderly man was reportedly pressured into transferring large sums of money over several transactions between April 4 and April 21. The fraudsters allegedly kept him under continuous surveillance through calls and instructed him not to inform family members about the matter.
The scam surfaced after the victim’s family noticed suspicious activity and approached the cyber police. A case has now been registered, and an investigation is underway to trace those involved.
Cyber police officials stated that this is the third such “digital arrest” case reported in Nashik this year. Authorities have once again urged citizens to remain cautious and avoid sharing personal or banking details with unknown callers claiming to be from law enforcement or government agencies.
