Mumbai Woman Duped in Digital Arrest Scheme: Fraudsters Extort Rs 1.7 Lakh in Devious Plot!

Mumbai(The Uttam Hindu): A 26-year-old woman in Mumbai was subjected to a digital arrest, where fraudsters made her disrobe during a video call. The scammers, who posed as Delhi police officers, told the woman that her name had come up in a money laundering case linked to Naresh Goyal, the founder-chairman of Jet Airways, who is currently in jail. They extorted ₹1.7 lakh from the woman and booked a hotel room for further questioning.

On November 19, the woman, who works for a pharmaceutical company, received a call from the fraudsters, who convinced her that her name was involved in a money laundering case. They switched from a voice call to a video call to make the scenario appear more authentic. The scammers then instructed her to check into a hotel for further questioning.

After checking in, the fraudsters continued the video call, demanding ₹1.78 lakh to verify her bank details. They also made her disrobe for a "body verification" as part of the investigation.

Realizing she had been duped, the woman filed a police complaint on November 28. The police are investigating the matter.

Fraudsters Previously Used Naresh Goyal's Name

This is not the first time fraudsters have used Naresh Goyal's name. Previously, they targeted Shri Paul Oswal, the Managing Director of textile company Vardhman, and digitally arrested him, extorting ₹7 crore. The police arrested two suspects in that case and recovered ₹5.25 crore. Authorities have identified seven other individuals involved in the fraud.

Understanding Digital Arrest

Q: What is a digital arrest?

A: Digital arrest refers to a form of blackmailing conducted via video calls, where cyber fraudsters impersonate police or government officials. They emotionally and mentally torture victims by claiming that something bad has happened or will happen to them or their loved ones. Since the fraudster appears as a uniformed officer, victims often get scared and fall into the trap.