Elderly Srinagar couple loses Rs 48 lakh to cyber fraud

Srinagar, Jan 17: An elderly couple from Srinagar has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing Rs 48 lakh after being subjected to what fraudsters described as a “digital arrest.”
An official said that the scammers contacted the couple through a WhatsApp video call, impersonating officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). “The callers falsely accused the couple of involvement in a major financial fraud allegedly under CBI investigation and shared forged orders purportedly issued by CBI and TRAI,” he said.
“To intimidate the victims, the fraudsters threatened to freeze their bank accounts and seize their property. They also forced the couple to remain under continuous video surveillance for several days, restricting them from leaving their house without permission and keeping them under constant watch, even during personal activities. Under severe psychological pressure, the couple eventually transferred Rs 48 lakh to accounts provided by the scammers,” the official added.
Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE), Crime Branch, Jammu and Kashmir, has reiterated that there is no such thing as a digital arrest.
Officials have urged the public to immediately treat such calls as fraudulent and report them without delay.
People facing similar situations have been advised to contact the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or lodge a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in
Senior citizens, especially those living alone while their children are away for work or business, are often targeted in such scams, they said.
The Crime Branch has once again appealed to the public to remain vigilant, verify any such claims with local police, and not fall prey to intimidation tactics used by cyber fraudsters. (KNO)