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Hyderabad, August 25 (Najaf Ali Shoukat-PMI) Prompt intervention by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) helped save a victim from losing ₹85.20 lakh in a sophisticated “digital arrest” cyber fraud, officials said.
Shikha Goel, IPS, Director, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, Telangana Police, said the case highlights the importance of immediately reporting suspected cyber fraud, as timely intervention can prevent substantial financial losses.
According to officials, cybercriminals targeted the victim by posing as senior law-enforcement personnel. The fraudsters allegedly informed the victim that his or her name had been linked to a serious criminal case and threatened arrest if immediate action was not taken. They used intimidation and psychological pressure to convince the victim that the matter was part of an official investigation.
The victim was allegedly directed to transfer a substantial amount of money as part of the purported investigation. The fraudsters reportedly maintained continuous communication with the victim and created an atmosphere of fear and urgency, a tactic commonly used in digital arrest scams.
After the matter was reported, TGCSB officials acted swiftly and coordinated with the concerned banks and financial institutions to prevent the fraudulent transactions. Their prompt intervention enabled authorities to stop the transfer and safeguard the entire ₹85.20 lakh from being siphoned off by the cybercriminals.
Officials said digital arrest scams are increasingly relying on impersonation, threats and fake legal proceedings to deceive victims. Fraudsters often claim to be police officers, CBI officials, Enforcement Directorate personnel, customs officials or other government authorities. Victims are sometimes instructed to remain on video calls for extended periods and are threatened with arrest, account freezing or other legal action.
Shikha Goel, IPS, advised citizens to remain alert and not panic when receiving suspicious calls from people claiming to be law-enforcement or government officials. She stressed that genuine investigating agencies do not conduct investigations through video calls or demand money from citizens to avoid arrest.
Citizens should not share bank account details, OTPs, passwords, Aadhaar information or other sensitive personal information with unknown callers.
TGCSB appealed to citizens to immediately report suspected cyber financial fraud by contacting the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or using the official cybercrime reporting portal. Victims should also promptly inform their banks so that preventive action can be initiated.
Officials stressed that every minute is crucial in financial cyber fraud cases. Early reporting enables banks and law-enforcement agencies to trace transactions, place holds on suspicious accounts and prevent or recover defrauded money. (pressmediaofindia.com)
