Cybercrime alert: 'Virtual arrest' scammers target Malayalis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cyber ​​crooks are waiting online with cunning schemes to rob Malayalis. The latest method involves posing as CBI, Customs, or Enforcement officers, and even as Supreme Court judges, to carry out "virtual arrests" and extort money. Victims, upon hearing that their loved ones have been arrested, are tricked into sharing their account details or sending money. Engineers, bank officials, IT professionals, and even a metropolitan bishop are among those who have lost money through such frauds.

The new scam, called "Virtual Arrest," involves impostors posing as officers from the Police, Narcotic Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Cyber Cell, Intelligence Bureau etc.

In the scam, victims are informed via phone calls that their parcel contains drugs or fake passports or that their Aadhaar or credit card has been linked to a terrorist investigation. The fraudsters, posing as law enforcement, display fake documents and warrants over video calls where they appear in uniform. They then ask the victims to transfer funds under the pretence of verifying whether the money in their accounts is legal, promising a refund later. Victims only realize they have been duped after their accounts are emptied.

In other cases, scammers claim that the phone number of the victim is linked to a major investigation and that the Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant against the victim. Victims are directed to check the warrant on a fraudulent website and are asked to pay amounts ranging from ₹20 lakh to ₹1 crore to avoid being implicated.

A businessman from Thrissur lost Rs 20 lakhs this way, while a doctor from Thiruvananthapuram lost Rs 40 lakhs. A Kannur native was defrauded of Rs 1.65 crore by scammers under the pretence of money laundering and human trafficking cases. Other scams include bank account updates, e-SIM verification, trading, and reward point fraud.

If you fall victim to fraud:

• Investigative agencies can freeze suspicious accounts
• No investigative agency will ask a person to transfer money for investigation
• Do not respond to such scams; inform police and relatives.
• You can get the money back if you report the matter to the helpline number 1930 within 2 hours