Digital Arrest Fraud Made Kochi Doctor Lose ₹1.3 Crore Run by CBI Impersonators
Digital Arrest Fraud Made Kochi Doctor Lose ₹1.3 Crore Run by CBI Impersonators
“Let’s take a look at a digital arrest case that made a Kochi Doctor lose ₹1.3 Crore involving a CBI Impersonator!”
An 81-year-old retired physician in Kochi was forced to transfer ₹1.3 crore by con artists posing as CBI investigators, making him a victim of a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam.
The Call That Caused Fear
It started with what appeared to be an official call. The accused, claiming to be Central Bureau of Investigation personnel, contacted the elderly doctor over WhatsApp and the phone, according to the first information report (FIR) submitted to Kochi City’s Cyber Crime Police.
The calls, which were made at 10:30 a.m. on November 1 and again at 3:30 p.m. on November 6, alerted people to the fact that another phone number purportedly registered in his name had been linked to illegal activity.
The con artists pretended to be law enforcement officers and said that he was the target of a money-laundering case. Unaware that he was being pulled into a well-planned psychological trap, the terrified doctor, who lived alone in an apartment on Chathyath Road, followed their orders.
Forced Transfers and Exposure Threats
The pressure was increased by the impostors on November 4. They wanted access to the doctor’s financial information, investments, bank accounts, and sources of income, purportedly to confirm his innocence, while claiming to be looking into the “illicit flow of funds.”
Under the guise of “temporary verification,” they were able to coerce him into moving ₹1.3 crore to another account over the course of the following few hours. When the doctor hesitated, the thieves threatened to post his financial information and private images on social media, threatening to imprison him and humiliate him in public if he told anyone about their calls. He didn’t become aware of the fraud until the transfer was finished.
Officer
| The bank in question has already frozen about ₹1 crore of the stolen funds, preventing any more withdrawals.
The officer stated, “The money can be recovered through due procedures and legal steps,” pointing out that prompt action could avert complete loss. |
The bank takes action to freeze the money
In addition to Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating by impersonation through computer resources, the case has been filed under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 316 (criminal breach of trust), Section 318 (cheating), and Section 351 (criminal intimidation).
Devilal Singh and Pranav Dhayal, two of the suspects, are named in the FIR along with other unnamed people who may be involved in a broader organized cybercrime network.
Operation Cy-Hunt: The Wider Crackdown
Operation Cy-Hunt, a statewide effort to dismantle sophisticated internet fraud rings, takes place at the same time as the event. Over 284 persons have been arrested in Kerala in recent months, according to police sources, many of whom were involved in financial transactions connected to cyber frauds.
For example, a similar case involving a 59-year-old woman who lost ₹2.88 crore in a phone-based fraud, reportedly masterminded by a Maharashtra native, was recently looked into by the Mattanchery police.
Investigators find startling similarities between these events, such as the use of encrypted messaging services, quick money diversion through mule accounts, and fictitious law enforcement personalities.
Police officials caution that senior citizens and professionals, especially those who live alone, continue to be good candidates for psychological manipulation as fraudsters continue to hone their impersonation techniques.
Officer
| “A fresh wave of social engineering is evident in many examples. “Hacking trust is now more important than merely hacking systems.” |
About The Author
Suraj Koli is a content specialist in technical writing about cybersecurity & information security. He has written many amazing articles related to cybersecurity concepts, with the latest trends in cyber awareness and ethical hacking. Find out more about “Him.”
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