Kolkata couple duped of ₹17 lakhs in 'digital arrest' fraud

A Golpark-based couple in Kolkata has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber scam, losing ₹17 lakh in what is being referred to as the "Digital Arrest" scheme. Subhashis Roy, a retired employee, and his wife Chandra Roy were targeted by fraudsters who posed as officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Delhi Police in a bid to extort money under the pretense of a criminal investigation.

The scam began when Subhashis received a call from someone claiming to be from the State Bank of India (SBI) headquarters in Delhi. The caller informed him that a credit card had been issued in his name and used to spend ₹1.6 lakh. Subhashis denied any knowledge of the card and stated he had not made any such purchases. The caller then told him that the matter was under investigation by the Delhi Police, prompting the phone line to be transferred to what appeared to be a video call with officers dressed in Delhi Police uniforms.

During the call, the "officers" informed Subhashis that an arrest warrant had been issued against him by the ED in relation to a ₹2.5 crore financial fraud. They claimed the investigation was ongoing and urgently required Subhashis’s Aadhaar card details to proceed with the verification. The fraudsters used high-level psychological manipulation, creating a sense of urgency and fear, leading Subhashis to share his Aadhaar card photo.

After sending the requested details, Subhashis received a notice supposedly from the ED, which stated that he was implicated in a large-scale financial scam. The notice further warned of an impending arrest unless he provided bank details for further verification. The couple, fearing arrest and the consequences of non-compliance, continued to share their personal banking information, which allowed the fraudsters to coerce them into transferring money.

Over the next few days, Subhashis and Chandra Roy made several large payments through RTGS, totaling ₹17 lakh, to accounts provided by the scammers. The fraudsters continued to pressure them, claiming the transfers were required to clear the couple's names from the fraudulent activities they were accused of.

Realizing they had been scammed, Subhashis Roy filed an FIR at the Gariahat police station. The case was subsequently transferred to the Cyber Cell of Kolkata Police. The Cyber Cell took swift action and was able to recover ₹3.5 lakh from the fraudsters, though the remaining ₹13.5 lakh had already been withdrawn. Authorities have since issued warnings to the public about such fraudulent schemes, urging individuals to verify any suspicious claims with official sources directly before sharing personal or financial information.