Kolkata: Police have launched a probe into a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam after fraudsters impersonating Delhi Police officers cheated a 62-year-old resident of Keyatala Road in the Lake area of Rs 29 lakh.According to police, the cyber fraud unravelled on or before Sept 16, when the victim and her husband were contacted via phone calls and WhatsApp messages by individuals posing as senior IPS officers from the national capital. These calls were spread over a number of days till Sept 16.The fraudsters entered into a criminal conspiracy to falsely implicate the couple in a fictitious money-laundering investigation. To build credibility and induce panic, the scammers shared forged documents carrying official logos and letterheads purportedly issued by Delhi Police, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and other central agencies.Exploiting the fear of immediate arrest and criminal prosecution, the impersonators subjected the couple to intense psychological pressure, coercing them into a “digital arrest.” Intimidated by the threats, the victim was dishonestly induced to transfer a total of Rs 29,00,000 across two separate bank accounts provided by the swindlers.The elaborate scheme came to light after the money was transferred, when the fake officials abruptly cut off all communication and went unresponsive. Realising they had been deceived, the victim approached the authorities.Kolkata Police registered a case under Sections 66C (identity theft) and 66D (cheating by personation using computer resources) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Charges have also been invoked under relevant provisions of the BNS, 2023, including Sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 204 (personating a public servant), 308(2) (extortion), 318(4) (cheating), 319(2) (cheating by personation), 336(2) and 336(3) (forgery and using forged documents as genuine), 338 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 340(2) (forged document).
