Summary: An 81 year old grandpa from Mumbai got caught in a very strange and bizarre digital scam where scammers pretended to be cops, “digitally arrested” him with non-stop video calls. The scammers accused him of crimes like money laundering and human trafficking, extorting ₹10 lakh in the process.
House Arrest on Video Calls
Chandrakant M, a retired senior citizen who recently returned to Mumbai from Hong Kong, got a WhatsApp video call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer. Things took a wild turn when they slapped him with fake accusations of human trafficking and money laundering. The fraudsters told him he was under “house arrest” and kept him glued to constant video calls so he couldn’t leave or ask for help.
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The Big Scam
The scammers pressured him into transferring ₹10 lakh via RTGS under the guise of an “investigation fee.” With no way out and scared stiff, he followed their instructions. The fraud didn’t stop there these crooks are known for converting extorted money into cryptocurrency to cover their tracks.
Police Crackdown on Digital Arrest Gangs
This isn’t the first “digital arrest” con in India. A similar gang was busted in Rajasthan recently, where 15 people were caught running a similar scam. While Chandrakant managed to file an FIR at Santacruz police station, his story is a grim reminder to stay cautious of fake authority calls.
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For now, police are investigating the case and working to track down the scammers.