VIJAYAWADA: Despite repeated warnings from cyber police not to trust phone calls claiming “digital arrests,” innocent people continue to fall prey to these scams. Fraudsters posing as police officers have been duping individuals into paying large sums of money by instilling fear. Over the past few months, cybercriminals in Vijayawada have been targeting city residents with threats of “digital arrests,” swindling amounts ranging from lakhs to crores of rupees. In a recent incident, a 25-year-old woman from Gayatri Nagar, Vijayawada, was tricked into paying ₹1.25 crore to these scammers. She later realized the fraud and approached the cybercrime police for help.
The victim, a software employee based in Hyderabad, had come to Vijayawada on Friday, November 15, to visit her parents. Around 10:30 AM, she received a call from an unidentified individual who introduced himself as a Mumbai police officer. He falsely accused her of receiving a courier containing narcotic substances and threatened her with arrest. Terrified, the woman was told she could avoid arrest by transferring money. Acting out of fear, she transferred ₹1.25 crore to the account details provided by the fraudster.
After making the payment, the woman realized she had been deceived. She immediately lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police in Vijayawada later that night. The victim provided details of the incident, including the bank account to which the money was transferred.
Cybercrime Inspector Gunaram confirmed that they have begun gathering information about the bank account used for the transaction. Police have issued repeated warnings to the public to remain vigilant against such scams and not to succumb to fear-based tactics employed by cybercriminals.
