Cyber Police Recover ₹1.06 Crore Lost by Senior Citizen in Virtual Arrest Scam

Ernakulam: The Cyber Police have successfully recovered ₹1.06 crore out of ₹1.3 crore swindled from a senior citizen in a “virtual arrest” scam.

According to officials, fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers contacted the victim—a doctor—claiming that his mobile number had been used for criminal activities and that a CBI case had been registered against him. Under this pretext, they initiated a video call and convinced him that he was under virtual arrest.

The scammers kept the doctor engaged for nearly 48 hours and coerced him into transferring the entire amount from his bank account to another account in a single transaction.

Realising he had been duped, the victim promptly contacted the cybercrime helpline number 1930. Swift action by the Cyber Police helped trace and recover ₹1.06 crore of the defrauded amount.

Officials said many recent cyber frauds in Kerala have targeted senior citizens. They reiterated that the concept of a “virtual arrest” has no legal validity and urged the public to stay vigilant.

Citizens are advised to immediately report any suspected online financial fraud to the 1930 helpline or via www.cybercrime.gov.in. Authorities emphasized that prompt reporting within the “golden hour” significantly increases the chances of full recovery.