Elderly Woman Duped of Rs 15 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud

Chandigarh, November 5, 2024
In a shocking case of “Digital Arrest” fraud, a 64-year-old woman from Sector 37, Chandigarh, fell prey to cybercriminals impersonating Maharashtra police and CBI officers, losing Rs 15 lakh. The victim, Kawaljit Kaur Gill, received a call on October 27 from a woman claiming that a SIM card issued in her name was linked to a crime in Mumbai. The caller immediately followed up with a WhatsApp video call, with a man dressed in a police uniform on screen, informing Gill that her bank account was implicated in a money-laundering operation worth Rs 650 crore.

The fraudsters insisted that she stay connected on the video call and threatened her with dire consequences if she disconnected or informed anyone. They demanded personal information, including details about her family and bank accounts, and coerced her into transferring Rs 15 lakh to a specified bank account, promising it would be returned after “investigations.”

Kawaljit Kaur Gill’s husband, Kulwinder Singh Gill, noticed her unusual behavior upon returning home on October 28, but she was too frightened to share her ordeal. On October 30, the fraudsters contacted her again, demanding additional money to “arrange her bail.” It was only then that her husband learned of the entire incident, recognizing it as a scam. The couple promptly reported the case to the cybercrime police station.

This incident follows a similar case last month, where another Chandigarh resident, Hari Nath, was defrauded of Rs 51 lakh. Police authorities have urged the public to stay vigilant against such “digital arrest” scams, advising citizens to report any suspicious calls to the cybercrime department.