Retired BARC employee loses ₹15 lakh in ‘digital arrest’

Online fraudsters have cheated a former employee of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, in the guise of ‘digital arrest’ and siphoned off ₹15 lakh from him.

Former BARC employee Ranganathan, 77, of Perumalpuram in Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, received a phone call from some strangers on December 27. The callers, who introduced themselves as officials of the Enforcement Directorate, told Mr. Ranganathan that he had been under ‘digital arrest’ on the charge of money laundering.

They asked him to send ₹15 lakh to a bank account specified by them for ‘releasing’ him from the ‘digital arrest’ and also the money laundering charge. Subsequently, Mr. Ranganathan transferred the amount on January 2.

When the harassment continued, Mr. Ranganathan filed a complaint with Tirunelveli City Cyber Crime Police, who have registered a case in this connection. Further investigation is on.