Kolkata: Two cases of digital arrest fraud were reported from south Kolkata on Tuesday. The victims, one aged 72 years and the other 80, were swindled of Rs 64.5 lakh by fraudsters, who posed as investigators from federal agencies, CBI and judicial authorities.With these two incidents, the total number of digital arrest cases reported in the city climbed to seven in a matter of a week. Investigators believe this sudden surge indicates a revival of this cyber-extortion tactic in Kolkata.In the first incident, the 72-year-old man, who lives in a co-operative housing society in Anandapur, was targeted between March 23 and April 7. The senior citizen received a series of calls from individuals, impersonating an inspector from Navi Mumbai and the chief of the CBI. The scammers claimed the victim was implicated in a high-profile money laundering case. Threatening him that his entire retirement benefits would be frozen, the victim was tricked into making three separate RTGS transfers, totalling Rs 54 lakh, to an account, provided by the accused. The victim later told police that the calls appeared so official that he never doubted the credibility of their claims and the fraudsters maintained a constant presence to prevent him from seeking help.The second case involved an 80-year-old retired corporate general manager residing in Chetla. On April 2, he received a call from an individual, claiming to be a CBI officer from Delhi. The intimidation escalated via WhatsApp video calls, when the victim was reportedly confronted by four to five men, dressed in alleged police uniforms. One of the accused even wore a black robe to give the impression of being a Supreme Court judge.To make their claims appear genuine, the fraudsters sent forged court orders, featuring the victim’s name, and the official logos of the Supreme Court and the CBI. “They virtually detained me in my house via video calls and did not allow me to contact anyone,” the victim stated in his complaint. Believing he was under “digital arrest,” he transferred Rs 33 lakh in two instalments to avoid the cancellation of a purported bail.The Kolkata Police registered FIRs under the BNS and relevant sections of the IT Act. While the detective department is investigating whether the same syndicate is behind both the crimes, officers conceded that the recovery of funds remained a significant challenge. “The money often changes hands through multiple ‘mule accounts’ within minutes of the transfer,” an officer said. While the suspect accounts have been flagged for freezing, the speed of digital transactions often outpaces traditional investigative protocol.Kolkata Police have again issued an advisory, emphasising that no govt agency, whether the CBI, Customs or state police, arrests or investigates via WhatsApp video calls. “Citizens must remember no agency will demand transfer of funds into private accounts for supposed verification or safe custody. If you are asked to stay on a video call under the guise of an arrest, it is a scam,” the advisory read.The 80-year-old victim, who lives alone, expressed the psychological toll of the ordeal, saying he was “completely devastated” after realising his life savings had been siphoned off. Police urged residents, especially senior citizens living alone, to contact the cybercrime helpline or the nearest police station on receiving such calls.
