Elderly man in Kasaragod loses ₹20 lakh in digital arrest fraud

A 72-year-old man from Kasaragod reportedly lost ₹20.10 lakh after falling victim to a digital arrest fraud, prompting the cyber police to register a case and launch an investigation.

The alleged fraud took place between January 12 and January 14.

According to the police, the accused contacted the man claiming that an account had been opened in his name at a bank in Mumbai using his Aadhaar details, and that funds had been transferred from his account to a banned organisation. The fraudsters also allegedly intimidated him, saying that a case had been registered.

Posing as investigating officials, the accused allegedly convinced the man that he was under digital arrest and reportedly managed to transfer ₹20.10 lakh from his account to the fraudster’s bank account.

A case was registered under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66 (D) of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008. The accused are yet to be identified.