Ex-Army Officer Of Odisha Loses Rs 1 Cr After Being Trapped In ‘Digital Arrest’

Cuttack: A former Army officer from Odisha’s Cuttack has lost Rs one crore after being trapped in so called ‘digital arrest’ cyber fraudsters.

After being duped by the fraudsters, the ex-Army officer lodged a complaint with the police following which an investigation has been launched into the matter.

The incident took place on November 18 when the ex-Army officer received a video call around noon showing some people sitting in what looked like an office. The caller identified himself as an official of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and told the ex-Army officer that he had multiple phone numbers active on his Aadhaar card number and there are allegations of money laundering against him.

They also said that g he is involved in illegal activities such as defrauding money from various banks with foreign links. His phone number is linked to multiple drug lords abroad and so he is being digitally arrested, according to Cuttack ADCP Amarendra Panda.

The man further told the ex-Army officer that he would be tried in a special CBI court on the following day and asked him to attend it. The victim received another video call on November 19 on WhatsApp. A room resembling a courtroom could be seen and he was interrogated by a man sitting as a judge, who said that the ex-Army officer would not be granted bail in the charges against him.

He directed the ex-Army officer to transfer money to a bank account and assured that once the case was settled, the deposited money would be returned to his account. The victim was terrified and transferred Rs 67 lakh on the same day and another Rs 37 lakh the next day to the bank account given by the caller.

After receiving the money, the fraudsters told the victim that the case against him was over but the money was not returned. The former Army officer realised that he had been cheated and reported the matter to the cyber police station on Tuesday.

Preliminary investigation showed that the call came from Mumbai and the police are verifying the number. Further investigation is in progress.