Digital Arrest: Rs 11.8 Crore Stolen By Scamsters - Bengaluru Techie's Ordeal

In a digital arrest scam a 39-year-old software engineer has become a victim and has lost Rs 11.8 crore to fraudsters who were impersonating police officials.

The police officials claimed that his Aadhaar card was being misused to open bank accounts for money laundering.

The fraud occurred between November 25 and December 12, the officials said on Monday.

The victim alleged that on November 11, he received a call from someone claiming to be an officer of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The alleged officer had claimed that his SIM card, which was linked to the Aadhaar card was used for illegal advertisements as well as harassing messages.

He further alleged that a case was registered in his name, in connection with this in Mumbai's Colaba Cyber Police Station.

He had received a call from a police officer alleging that his Aadhar details were being misused for opening bank accounts with the purpose of laundering money, the FIR said.

The scammer warned him to keep the matter to himself and threatened that if he did not cooperate with the virtual investigation, he would also be physically arrested.

Later, the victim got a call from someone asking him to download Skype, following which someone dressed in the Mumbai police uniform video-called the victim.

The video-caller also claimed that a businessman had opened a bank account using his Aadhaar to conduct transactions worth ₹6 crore, the FIR further stated.

On November 25, another man in a police uniform called the victim on Skype and alleged that his case was being heard in the top court and threatened to arrest his family in case of non-compliance, the complainant said.

The scammers cited fake Reserve bank of India (RBI) guidelines and asked him to transfer funds to certain accounts under the pretext of "verification purposes" or face legal consequences.

According to the FIR, the victim transferred ₹11.8 crore in multiple transactions to various bank accounts over a period of time, fearing arrest. However, when they started demanding for more money, the victim realised that he had fallen prey to fraudsters and lodged a complaint with the police.

Under the IT Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a case had been registered for cheating and cheating by impersonation, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.