Digital arrest fraud: Scammers pose as I4C officers, dupe Hyderabad businessman of Rs 1.83 crore

Hyderabad: Cyber criminals posing as officials of the National Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) cheated a 60-year-old businessman from Mokila in Rangareddy district of Rs 1.83 crore through ‘digital arrest’ fraud.

The scammers terrorised him and his wife with threats of their fabricated involvement in a fake international woman trafficking case.

The fraud continued for four days before the victims realised it was a scam. The Cyberabad Cyber Crime Police have registered a case and launched an investigation.

First known case of I4C name misuse

Police said that while cyber criminals earlier impersonated officials from the CBI, ED, and Police Departments, this case is significant as it marks a new trend of misusing the name of I4C to lend credibility to their threats.

Aadhaar details taken first

The fraud began on November 27, when the businessman received a call claiming to be from the I4C office in Bengaluru. The caller alleged that the businessman was a suspect in the harassment of a woman from Bengaluru.

Another person who introduced himself as Tirumala Ramarao joined the call and questioned the victim. Despite repeated denials, the scammers extracted the businessman’s Aadhaar details, paving the way for the next stage of the scam.

Threats escalate with fake police and CBI officials

Soon after, another caller identifying himself as Shivaprasad, Police Control Room In-charge, promised to ‘settle’ the matter and issue a police clearance certificate.

Later, another fraudster claimed that the case involved international woman trafficking, and that the ‘main accused,’ Sadakat Khan, had already been arrested.

Video call ‘arrest’ and psychological pressure

A fraudster using the name Sandeep Rovu instructed the businessman and his wife to appear together on a video call. During the call, their bank account details were collected. Moments later, another accused appeared posing as CBI officer Daya Nayak.

He threatened to arrest the couple and send them to 90-day judicial custody.

When the terrified couple pleaded, he announced they were being placed under “temporary digital arrest,” warning them not to leave their home or speak to anyone.

Rs 1.82 crore siphoned off in name of ‘verification’

The fraudsters ordered the businessman to transfer money to specific bank accounts, claiming it was required for official verification and would be returned after the investigation was completed. Between November 28 and December 1, the victim transferred Rs 1.82 crore in multiple transactions to accounts operated by the criminals.

Greed exposed the scam

On December 1, the fraudsters contacted the businessman again, seeking details of his lands, gold, and other movable assets, and warned that their team would soon visit his residence.

Alarmed by this fresh demand, the businessman consulted acquaintances, who immediately identified it as a cyber fraud. He then approached the Cyberabad Cyber Crime Police, who registered a case and began tracking the money trail.