Bengaluru: A 94-year-old research scholar lost nearly Rs 5 crore — in six bank-to-bank electronic transfers over 69 days — in a digital-arrest fraud from Dec to Feb this year. The victim learnt he had been defrauded only when he approached a friend to borrow money, after exhausting all his savings.Visakan (name changed), from Victoria Layout in Richmond Town, filed a complaint with East Cyber Crime police station on March 8, stating the fraud began on Dec 2. The victim’s wife, a scientist, was hospitalised due to health issues when the victim fell prey to the fraud.Efforts are on to freeze the money from multiple bank accounts of fraudsters, a police officer added.The retired scholar received a call from an unknown number in which the caller introduced himself as an officer from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and accused Visakan of being involved in a human-trafficking case registered in Ballari. He disconnected the call after informing him that a police inspector would contact him, leaving the victim shocked and confused.Soon, another fraudster, Sandeep Rao from CBI, informed Visakan the case had been transferred to the central probe agency. The fraudster made WhatsApp video calls to Visakan and asked him to send a copy of his Aadhaar card. They sent him a fake FIR copy to make the accusation appear genuine.The scammers then placed the victim under digital arrest, warning him not to disclose the calls to anyone. They made video calls from multiple mobile numbers. During calls, Visakan saw fraudsters wearing police uniforms in a room designed like a CBI office.As Visakan kept explaining to the fraudsters that he was innocent and not involved in any trafficking, the fraudsters pretended to help him.To step up pressure, fraudsters allegedly told the victim the case was “very serious” and pending before Supreme Court. The matter could be “settled” if he cooperated with their instructions. The fraudsters made him reveal his bank details and instructed him to transfer money to the accounts they provided.From Dec 17 to Feb 23, they made him transfer over Rs 4.9 crore: Rs 92 lakh from a joint account held with his wife; Rs 76 lakh, over Rs 1 crore, Rs 57 lakh, Rs 23 lakh and Rs 1.3 crore. All transactions were made through RTGS.When fraudsters continued demanding more money, Visakan, out of funds, approached a friend. After the friend asked him why he needed such a huge amount, the victim explained his ordeal. That was when the friend informed him it was a fraud.
