Kolkata: A 69-year-old Picnic Garden resident was duped of Rs 23.7 lakh in a digital arrest fraud where the conmen impersonated federal investigators. This was the third major incident reported to Kolkata Police in 24 hours, a period during which the city collectively lost over Rs 1.1 crore to online predators. The two other incidents were reported from Bagbazar on Thursday, and saw losses of Rs 51.5 lakh and 39 lakh.The ordeal for the Picnic Garden resident began on April 1 around 4.40 pm when he received a call from an unknown number claiming his Aadhaar credentials had been used to send a parcel containing narcotics, which was intercepted by Mumbai airport customs. The intimidation escalated rapidly, and, within hours, the victim was contacted via WhatsApp by an individual posing as Amit Kumar, an “investigating officer” from the Mumbai Cyber Crime cell. The fraudsters utilised high-quality forgeries, including fake CBI certificates, a ‘supervision certificate’, and a fabricated FIR, to convince the victim about their authenticity.Under the guise of a ‘financial investigation’, the conmen coerced the elderly man into revealing his entire portfolio of assets, including fixed deposits and recurring deposit details. Over a period of several hours, the victim was kept under ‘digital arrest’. They eventually shifted from legal jargon to overt aggression. After receiving explicit murder threats against himself and his family, the victim was forced to transfer Rs 23.7 lakh via RTGS to an Axis Bank account in Baguiati, held under the name of an e-commerce private limited firm. Investigators pointed to a disturbing trend — the victims in almost all recent cases are senior citizens. Cops attribute their vulnerability to a ‘generational trust in authority’. “Older adults are hardwired to respect and fear govt institutions, like the CBI or Customs. When they see a forged document with a national emblem, their first instinct is compliance rather than scepticism,” an officer said. He added that digital isolation and a lack of familiarity with the nuances of VPA or RTGS fraud make them prime targets for the fear psychosis that defines digital arrest scams. Cops reiterated there is nothing called ‘digital arrest’. No law enforcement agency will demand money over video call or ask for a ‘security deposit’ to clear a name in a criminal case. Family members are being encouraged to monitor digital interactions of elderly relatives.
