Belagavi: In a shocking escalation of cybercrime, an elderly businessman from Belagavi has lost a staggering ₹15 crore to fraudsters. Falling prey to a sophisticated 'Digital Arrest' scam, the businessman transferred the massive sum in multiple installments and is now left in distress.

The Incident

On March 18, the scammers contacted the businessman via video call, posing as high-ranking officials from a central investigation agency. They intimidated him by claiming, "Your bank account has appeared on a money laundering fraud list. You are allegedly involved in activities against national interest."

To "clear" his name, the scammers convinced him to transfer all his funds into a "secure government-monitored account" for verification, promising that the money would be returned once the investigation was complete. Panicked by the threats, the elderly entrepreneur transferred a total of ₹15 crore to various bank accounts provided by the criminals.

Police Action

The victim realized he had been swindled when the scammers became unreachable after the final transfer. He immediately approached the Belagavi City CEN (Cyber, Economic Offences, and Narcotics) Police Station to lodge a complaint.

₹90 Lakh Frozen: Acting swiftly upon the complaint, the police tracked the transaction trail and managed to freeze accounts containing ₹90 lakh.

Special Team Formed: The Belagavi Police Commissioner has formed a dedicated special task force to track down the cybercriminals and recover the remaining amount.

What is 'Digital Arrest'?

'Digital Arrest' is a psychological cyber-scam where fraudsters pose as police, CBI, or ED officers. They force victims to stay on a video call for hours or even days, claiming they are under "virtual custody." Victims are warned not to leave their homes or speak to anyone, eventually being coerced into transferring large sums of money under the guise of "security deposits" or "fines."

Police Appeal: "No government agency will ever arrest you over a video call or ask you to transfer money to private accounts for 'verification.' Do not panic if you receive such calls. Immediately call the 1930 Cyber Helpline or report the matter to your nearest police station."