Retd medical officer in ‘digital arrest’ duped of Rs2cr A 76-year-old retired medical officer from Laxmi Nagar in Nagpur has fallen victim to a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ scam, losing a total of Rs2 crore to fraudsters who impersonated government officials. According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the cyber police station on Saturday, the victim received threatening messages on his mobile number between March 23 and April 3. The scammers, posing as authorities from the Supreme Court, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai Police, and Reserve Bank of India (RBI), sent fake documents with official stamps via WhatsApp. These messages falsely claimed his bank accounts were linked to terrorist activities, prompting the senior citizen to transfer funds online. The FIR details indicate that the fraudsters used WhatsApp to communicate with the complainant, leveraging the urgency of legal threats to manipulate him into complying. The fake documents, which included official seals and purported legal notices, were designed to instill fear and urgency. The victim, reportedly a retired medical officer, was misled into transferring the money through online banking channels. The police have now invoked several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 340(1), 204, 61(2), and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act. These provisions address offenses such as criminal intimidation, forgery, and cybercrime. Despite the police investigation, no arrests have been made so far. Cyber experts have issued warnings to the public, particularly senior citizens, against sharing personal details or transferring funds in response to calls or messages claiming to be related to ‘digital arrests’ or fake warrants.#nagpur #supreme_court #enforcement_directorate #retired_medical_officer #laxmi_nagar
