Cyber scammers used digital arrest tactics while posing as law enforcement officials to extort money
OdishaPlus Bureau
In a recent case of educated individuals being targeted by cyber scammers, the Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University in Odisha fell victim to a ‘digital arrest’ scheme, losing Rs. 14 lakh. Geetanjali Dash, the Vice Chancellor, reported to the Cyber Police in Berhampur that she was scammed out of Rs. 1.68 crore from her savings around 9 pm yesterday.
According to the Cyber Police, Dash received a call on February 12 from someone claiming to be an officer from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This person accused her of being involved in an ED case.
The scammer threatened her with legal consequences, stating that an account had been opened in her name at Canara Bank with large sums of illegal money deposited. She was then placed under a digital arrest by the fraudsters.
The scammers demanded Rs. 14 lakh for her ‘release,’ which she paid by sending a bank cheque to their account. The police have registered a case and are currently investigating the matter.
It is worth noting that in December, the Cyber Crime Unit of the Odisha Crime Branch arrested two scammers who had previously defrauded a senior scientist in a similar digital arrest case, amounting to Rs. 1.68 crore.
