Three held for Rs 2.5-crore digital arrest fraud

Three natives of Uttar Pradesh have been arrested in a case of online fraud to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore.

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The suspects were identified as Dharmendra Singh (28) from Hathras, Ram Kisan Singh, alias Ramu (36), from Agra, and Sakib (24) from Saharanpur.

In a complaint to the police, Sumit Kaur of Sector 10-A had stated that she was targeted on May 3 via a phone call by someone impersonating a TRAI official. The caller claimed misuse of her SIM and an FIR against her. She was then coerced through a series of high-pressure WhatsApp video calls by impersonators of law enforcement and judiciary, including fake CBI DIG and Supreme Court judge. They manipulated her into transferring her life savings into multiple fraudulent accounts.

A case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at the cybercrime police station on June 1.

The suspects have admitted to knowingly opening and renting out bank accounts used in the fraud. Sakib confessed to operating accounts for a 10% commission.

The investigation uncovered a nationwide fraud network using multiple mobile numbers and bank accounts across states. The police said efforts were on to identify their accomplices and recover the money involved in the fraud. The police have urged people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls to the cybercrime helpline (1930).