Bengaluru: In a chilling twist to the growing menace of digital arrest scams, cyber fraudsters not only threatened a senior citizen over video calls but also allegedly sent a man to his house to deliver him medicine for blood pressure, making the victim believe he was under real surveillance before cheating him of Rs 50 lakh.The victim, Pratap (name changed), 74, is a retired person and resident of Domlur. In his complaint with East Cyber Crime police, on March 5 around 3.30pm, Pratap said he received a call from someone who introduced himself as a telecom officer and claimed Pratap was required to undergo an inquiry as his mobile number was misused in a money laundering case. Soon after, the fraudsters made a WhatsApp video call, claiming he was under “digital arrest” and warned him not to disclose the call to anyone.The callers sent him documents titled “Financial Transaction Committee Order” under the letterhead of “Supreme Court of India”. They also claimed the inquiry will be conducted under the Protection of Anti-Money Laundering Office of India. When Pratap pleaded innocence, the callers told him he was a suspect and could be acquitted only if he cooperated with them. They instructed him to follow a “standard protocol”, which included not contacting anyone for the next 72 hours. They further claimed that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers from Navi Mumbai were monitoring and that field officers were stationed near his residence and tracked his movements.On March 7 around 8.30am, he informed the callers that he needed to step out to buy medicine for his blood pressure from a nearby medical store. In a strange development, the fraudsters told him that one of their men would deliver the medicine. Shockingly, within 10 minutes, a stranger arrived at his residence with the medicine, reinforcing the fraudsters’ claim that they closely watched him. However, Pratap refused to accept the medicine.Later around 10.30am, the fraudsters asked him to join a video call, claiming it was a virtual court proceeding. During the call, they informed him that an order of acquittal was passed, forwarding a copy of the document to him. They then pressured him to deposit Rs 50 lakh as directed by the “court order”.Believing the threats and the staged proceedings, Pratap transferred money through RTGS to a current account in the name of Payncare Technologie. He soon realised he was cheated and contacted the bank, which advised him to call the cyber helpline 1930 and lodge a complaint. Pratap approached police the next day.A senior officer said Pratap was alone at home during the fraud. “His son works abroad and his wife was visiting him. So, he had no opportunity to share his ordeal with anyone,” the officer said.
