Following digital arrests, fraud cases are on the rise across the country. India Today's Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been thoroughly investigating this issue. The Internet Protocol Detail Record (IDPR) disclosed that this operation is rooted globally, with connections across Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Funds are being funneled out from Cambodia and Dubai.
Private companies operating these scams often employ Indian workers, enticing them with foreign job offers, only to trap them into digital slavery. Numerous agencies are diligently working to track down the networks behind these digital arrests.
In response to the surge in digital arrest cases, India Today's SIT conducted a revealing sting operation. The probe began when a courier company contacted our reporter, claiming a parcel under their name was stalled in Mumbai. Allegedly, posing as a DHL employee, the scammer communicated that a parcel meant for Beijing couldn't be delivered from Mumbai.
'Customs Has Seized the Parcel'
The scammer supplied the reporter's identity, including their name, ID proof, and phone number, purportedly utilized in sending the parcel. Pretending to be a DHL employee, the scammer alleged that the parcel was confiscated by Mumbai customs. The fraudulent caller detailed the contents of the parcel, citing five credit cards, seven passports, 3.5 kg of clothes, 400 grams of MDMA, and other items deemed illegal in India. They subsequently demanded a formal complaint, urging contact with a purported Mumbai police officer via WhatsApp.
Source: aajtak
Threats of Severe Consequences
During the call, the bogus officer, expressing concern over drug smuggling, interrogated the reporter about the parcel. With a stern warning, the fake officer stated, 'If even 10 grams are found, you face a 3-7 year sentence, and your parcel contains 400 grams.' Astonished, the reporter insisted they had no involvement with the parcel.
The Fake Officer Continues Intimidation
Unyielding, the fake officer warned that discovering a corpse tied to the parcel would worsen the situation. With menacing words, the faux police queried, 'What if a weapon or body in your name is found within an hour? Will you still sit idly in your office? Could this not become a major problem for you?'
Impersonator Claims to be an IPS Officer
The intimidation tactics peaked when the impersonator insisted on recording a video statement, demanding sensitive personal information like identification details. Claiming 27 years of experience as an IPS officer, the fake policeman accused the reporter of being implicated in a money-laundering case involving over 536 crore INR fraud tied to a business person. The official alleged the reporter's name was linked to a Canara Bank account associated with this illicit activity, deeply entangling them in the web of deceit.
Presented an ED Warrant
During their conversation, counterfeit documents presented as National Secrets were shown to the reporter. The fake officer instructed them to stay silent about the case and avoid discussing it with others. As the conversation evolved, the scammer demanded the reporter undergo a 'purity test' and introduced another so-called officer presenting an Enforcement Directorate (ED) warrant—even displaying the reporter’s photograph.
