Bengaluru: 3 Arrested For Rs 11.8 Cr 'Digital Arrest' Scam; Kingpin Believed To Be In Dubai

The fraud began on November 11, when the victim received a call from someone impersonating an officer from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The caller claimed that Kumar's Aadhaar-linked SIM card was being used for illegal advertisements and harassing messages.

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The police have arrested three individuals for allegedly defrauding a software engineer of Rs 11.8 crore in a 'digital arrest' scam that took place in November last year. The accused, identified as Dhaval Bhai Shah (34) from Ahmedabad, and Tarun Natani (24) and Karan Shamdasani (28) from Ulhasnagar in Maharashtra, were apprehended on January 10. Authorities have seized Rs 3.7 crore from various bank accounts linked to the accused while efforts are underway to trace other members of the gang.

According to police, the suspected kingpin of the gang is operating from Dubai. The victim, 39-year-old Vijay Kumar, was reportedly kept in 'digital arrest' for nearly a month, during which he was coerced into transferring the money, as per a report on PTI.

How Scam Unfolded

The fraud began on November 11, when the victim received a call from someone impersonating an officer from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller claimed that Kumar's Aadhaar-linked SIM card was being used for illegal advertisements and harassing messages.

Subsequently, another individual posing as a police officer accused Kumar of using his Aadhaar details to open bank accounts for money laundering. The fraudsters threatened him with physical arrest if he did not cooperate and demanded confidentiality.

The victim was reportedly held under digital arrest for a month between November 11 and December 12, as reported by Deccan Herald. 

Between November 25 and December 12, the victim transferred Rs 11.8 crore in multiple transactions to various accounts out of fear. However, when the fraudsters demanded additional money, Kumar realized he had been duped and reported the matter to the police.

Police investigations revealed that the fraudsters had misused the victim's Aadhaar details to open bank accounts for laundering money. The arrested suspects are believed to be part of a larger network with the mastermind allegedly operating from Dubai.