Mathura (UP), Oct 5 (PTI) A cyber fraudster allegedly scammed a local business of Rs 30 lakh through the “digital arrest” scam, a police officer said on Monday.
According to a complaint by Vrindavan-based businessman Ratan Lal Agarwal, he received a WhatsApp call from an unknown caller on September 28, introducing himself as an ATS officer. The scammer allegedly told him that his wife had been using her mobile number fraudulently and that it was linked to a criminal case, and demanded Rs 30 lakh.
The fraudster kept him under digital arrest for three days, during which Agrawal was continuously being watched over an audio and video call and was told not to speak to anyone.
Out of fear, Ratan Lal didn’t share the incident with his family members and friends.
He arranged Rs 30 lakh from his different bank accounts and transferred it to the account given by the fraudsters through RTGS on October 1.
When the incident came to light, his son suspected fraud and immediately registered an online complaint.
Circle Officer Vrindavan Sandeep Kumar Singh on Monday said the complaint was received on October 3, and a case was registered on the same day.
The case has been registered against unidentified persons under section 318 (4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the IT Act at the Cyber Crime police station, police said.
“Rs 15 lakh has been put on hold. We are tracing the fraudsters. We will arrange the release of the on-hold amount to the businessmen,” the police officer said. PTI COR NAV KSI
KSI
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