Bhubaneswar: Berhampur University Vice Chancellor Prof Geetanjali Dash was placed under ‘digital arrest‘ and defrauded to the tune of Rs 14 lakh in a latest impersonation fraud case in Odisha.
She lodged a complaint with the Cyber Police on Monday.
According to police sources, an unknown caller, identifying himself as an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer, told Dash that she was under ‘digital arrest’ for four days. The fraudster then threatened her, claiming that her Aadhaar number was found linked with a financial irregularities case, which is being monitored by the Supreme Court.
The fraudster called up her on different occasions and convinced her to pay Rs 14 lakh over the last four days. She paid her the amount through bank cheques.
Dash became suspicious when called up the fraudster later and found that the number was switched off.
Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M on Tuesday confirmed that a case has been registered and investigation is underway. “The fraudsters have looted Rs 14 lakh from Das through digital arrest. Based on her complaint, an investigation into the incident has been launched,” he said.