Bengaluru: Cybercriminals are increasingly finding new ways to dupe people. Previously, scammers used the names of CBI officers, Mumbai Police, or central investigative agencies to intimidate victims. Now, it has come to light that they have directly used the name of the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner in an attempt to perform a 'Digital Arrest.'
What Happened?
A city woman received a call from a private number. The scammers terrified her by claiming, "Your mother is involved in an illegal activity, and a serious case has been registered against her." Subsequently, they converted the call into a video call and even spoke with the woman's daughter. They threatened them, saying, "Your mother must cooperate with the investigation. Send your house location; we need to come there."
A Flood of Fake Documents!
The police were stunned to see the sophisticated fake documents created by these criminals to gain the woman's trust:
Commissioner’s Seal and Signature: Instead of the current Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, the scammers used the name, seal, and signature of former ADGP Seemant Kumar Singh to create a fake order copy.
Letter in the Name of the Supreme Court: Fake documents were shown claiming there was a Supreme Court order for the investigation.
CID Report: They created and sent a fraudulent report claiming that suspects in a particular case had been arrested by the Karnataka CID.
Fraud in the Name of Naina Prakash: Documents were forged against someone named Naina Prakash to pressure the woman into giving money or personal information.
The Woman’s Presence of Mind
Upon closely examining the documents sent by the criminals, the woman grew suspicious. Instead of panicking, she promptly filed a complaint through the official email of the Bengaluru Police and the Cybercrime.gov.in portal. Her quick thinking prevented a major fraud.
Police Warning
Taking the incident seriously, the Bengaluru City Police have launched an investigation. They have appealed to the public, stating: "No police officer will 'arrest' you over a video call or demand money by asking for your home location. If you receive such calls, immediately inform the nearest police station or call 1930."