SRINAGAR: Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone has successfully cracked a digital arrest scam in which a senior citizen from Srinagar was defrauded of Rs 21 lakh by scammers impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Three individuals have been arrested, and Rs 4.13 lakh has been recovered.
The incident began when the victim, a senior citizen, received a call from fraudsters who accused him of being involved in a money laundering scheme involving Rs 6.8 crores. They issued fake arrest warrants and penalties, pressuring the victim with fabricated threats of arrest, police said in a statement.
The scammers manipulated the victim psychologically, claiming the conversations were “national secrets” and instructed him to lock his house, avoid communication with others, and promised a refund within hours. Under this intense pressure, the victim closed his fixed deposits and transferred Rs 21 lakh to a fraudulent HDFC Bank account.
Upon receiving the complaint, Cyber Police Kashmir registered FIR No. 26/2024 and swiftly launched an investigation. Using advanced technical tools, the police traced the culprits to Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab. This led to the arrests of Gaurav Kumar from Shamli (UP), Gurpreet Singh from Patiala (Punjab), and Ujjawal Chauhan, also from Patiala.
During the raids, the police seized several items, including four mobile phones, a MacBook, 13 SIM cards, 24 debit cards, 20 cheque books, 10 passbooks, and other incriminating materials. Additionally, Rs 4.13 lakh was recovered and transferred back to the victim’s account.
The arrested individuals face multiple charges, including fraud, conspiracy, and coercion. The investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend other conspirators involved in this elaborate scam.
Cyber Police Kashmir Zone has issued a public advisory urging citizens to be cautious when sharing sensitive financial information. They reminded the public that legitimate government agencies will never conduct investigations or issue arrest orders via video calls or request payments over the phone. Citizens are advised to verify the identity of callers claiming to represent official authorities and to report suspicious activities to the nearest Cyber Police station or cybercrime helpline immediately.
Cyber Police Kashmir remains dedicated to tackling the growing threat of cybercrimes and safeguarding the public from such fraudulent activities.
Cyber Police Kashmir cracks Rs 21 lakh digital arrest scam; three arrested
