A Mumbai woman recently fell victim to a digital arrest scam, resulting in a loss of Rs 20 crore.
The scammers tricked the woman by saying that her Aadhar card had been misused for several illegal activities.
Later she was told that she was placed under a “digital arrest”.
An 86-year-old woman in Mumbai recently fell victim to a digital arrest scam, resulting in a loss of Rs 20 crore. The scammers, posing as police officials, falsely claimed that her Aadhaar card was being misused. They manipulated the elderly woman through a video call, termed a ‘digital arrest,’ and threatened her against informing anyone. Under pressure, the victim was coerced into transferring money to designated bank accounts as part of the supposed investigation. This incident highlights the growing risk of sophisticated phone scams targeting vulnerable individuals.
What exactly happened?
On December 26, the scammers tricked the 86-year-old woman by saying that her Aadhar card had been misused for several illegal activities and then pressured her to transfer money to various accounts to settle the case.
According to the report, they threatened legal action against her and her family if she did not follow the instructions. Later she was told that she was placed under a “digital arrest” and was not allowed to discuss the situation with anyone.
After realizing she had been scammed, the elderly woman promptly filed an FIR. Authorities have tracked the financial transactions involved and successfully arrested those responsible for the scam.
Also read: Scam alert! Retired officer falls victim to Facebook scam, loses Rs 5 crore
Important points to stay safe from digital scams:
- Don’t get manipulated with the information anyone provides and never reveal confidential information like OTP etc.
- Do not fall for the artificial urgency, which contains threats and contact the nearest police station.
- Always be updated with the latest scams to safeguard yourself from scams.
- If you identify any risk, trust your gut and share it with your friends
Do note that, neither the police nor UIDAI officials ask for personal details or remote device access. If you get such calls, disconnect them immediately and report them to UIDAI’s helpline at 1947.
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