Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Noida Police Probe 'Digital Arrest' Scam That Forced 76-Year-Old to Transfer ₹43.70 Lakh

Investigators have registered a cybercrime case and are tracking transfers routed through multiple bank and merchant accounts after a senior citizen was coerced into paying a supposed security deposit.

Image
Representational image
She said in her statement that the fraudsters told her that bank accounts in her name in Mumbai were being used to fund terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.

Overview

  • Police said the Sector 41 resident, identified as Sarla Devi, was kept under a so-called digital arrest via WhatsApp video calls by impersonators posing as Mumbai Crime Branch officers.
  • The callers alleged her mobile number and bank accounts were tied to the Pahalgam attack and threatened her with arrest unless she made payments as a security amount.
  • Between July 20 and August 13, she made eight transfers via RTGS and QR codes totaling ₹43.70 lakh, and the fraudsters later pressured her to arrange an additional ₹15 lakh.
  • An FIR was lodged on August 31 under cheating, personation, and extortion provisions of the BNS along with the IT Act, and the Noida cybercrime unit is leading the investigation.
  • Investigators traced the funds to accounts in the names of Varinder Pal Singh and Madan Kumar and to merchant accounts listed as Manju General Store and Ashapura Tea Stall.