By Krishika Dinesh Rathod
Mumbai Police have arrested a 21-year-old man for his alleged role in a cyber fraud racket that duped an 81-year-old South Mumbai resident of a staggering ₹7.8 crore using the notorious “digital arrest” modus operandi, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The accused, identified as Kartik Chaudhary from Malvani in Malad, is said to have allowed his bank account to be used for the fraudulent transfers. Investigators revealed that ₹1.98 lakh was funneled through his account, which he later withdrew and handed over to an associate. In exchange, Chaudhary received a commission.
According to police, Chaudhary had been added to a Telegram channel where members were recruited to provide their bank account details for illegal money transfers in return for a share of the proceeds. The higher-level operators in the racket allegedly converted the siphoned money into cryptocurrency, which was then routed to Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, where the fraud network is suspected to be operating.
Interestingly, the victim herself did not approach authorities to file a complaint. Instead, Mumbai Police initiated the probe after receiving internal inputs about suspicious, large-scale fund transfers. When officers visited the elderly woman’s residence, they discovered the massive fraud and subsequently registered an FIR against unidentified persons.
Explaining the “digital arrest” scam, police said fraudsters impersonate government or law enforcement officials, contacting victims via Skype or video calls. Victims are pressured into believing they are under investigation and coerced into transferring large sums of money to secure their release from fabricated charges.
An official described Chaudhary’s arrest as a “significant breakthrough” in combating the rising menace of cyber fraud in Mumbai. The cyber police are now tracking other accomplices involved in the network.