Digital Arrest Tax Fraud
Highlights
The fraudster threatened by claiming to be a police officer. Kulkarni transferred the money from his wife’s account. Incidents of fraud through digital arrest have happened earlier as well.
Naiduniya representative, Ujjain. 76-year-old Ravindra Kulkarni, a resident of Mangal Colony and a retired officer of Hindustan Copper Limited Company, was digitally arrested and duped of Rs 2.55 crore. The officer was digitally arrested by threatening to send him to jail and impose a fine of Rs 5 lakh. After that, Ravindra transferred Rs 2.55 crore from his and his wife’s bank accounts to the bank account given by the fraudster via RTGS. Madhavnagar police station has registered a case and started investigation.
Police said that Ravindra Kulkarni had complained in the police station on September 20 that a person named Hemraj Koli had called him on his mobile on September 10. Koli had introduced himself as SI of Mumbai Police. The alleged SI Koli said that he is posted at Andheri police station. 17 cases of money laundering are registered against Kulkarni. There are also complaints related to obscene videos. There can be a jail term of three years and a fine of five lakh rupees. Kulkarni was digitally arrested by threatening to send him to jail.
In the name of getting the money verified in the money laundering case, Kulkarni was asked to transfer the amount deposited in his bank account online to the bank accounts given by Koli. Out of fear, Kulkarni transferred Rs 2.55 crore from his and his wife Anamika’s bank accounts to the bank accounts given by the fraud from 11 to 13 September. After that, Kulkarni reached Madhavnagar police station. On his complaint, the police have registered a case against unknown miscreants.
Retired bank officer was duped of Rs 50 lakh
Another big incident of fraud by digital arrest has happened in Ujjain in the month of August. Retired SBI manager Rakesh Kumar Jain was duped by posing as a fake CBI officer. By digital arrest and threats, the fraudsters deposited Rs 50 lakh in their account. Police investigation is still going on.
A businessman has also been cheated of Rs 2 crore
A similar incident happened with Charanjeet, a businessman from Ujjain, on 8 April. He was duped by some people posing as fake CBI officers by threatening to implicate him in a fraud case. By using the guise of digital arrest, the fraudsters deposited Rs 2 crore in their account. Investigation is also going on in this matter.
what is digital arrest
Digital arrest is a type of cyber fraud in which criminals hold people hostage and cheat them. In digital arrest, cyber criminals talk to the victim on video call by introducing themselves as a senior officer of police, CBI, customs or any other agency. After this, they hold the victim hostage online, threaten them and extort money from them. The victim is mentally and digitally under someone else’s control.
Don’t be afraid if you receive a call for digital arrest
SP Pradeep Sharma said that if someone threatens to arrest you digitally by posing as a police or CBI officer, then first of all you should inform your family members or friends. Do not lock yourself in the room. You should go to the police station and complain about it. Do not be afraid at all that the police will take any action against you.