Cyber Crime
STF Busts Rs 3 Crore Digital House Arrest Scam, Arrests Key Accused in Dehradun Cyber Fraud Case
In Dehradun, a high-stakes digital scam was busted by the Special Task Force (STF), Uttarakhand, leading to the arrest of the main accused who extorted over Rs 3 crore. Senior Superintendent of Police (STF) Navneet Singh shared that the case began when a Rajpur, Dehradun resident reported a suspicious call from a person claiming to be from FedEx. The caller alleged that the victim’s parcel, supposedly containing passports and narcotics, was seized at Mumbai Airport.
Despite the victim’s denial of sending any parcel, the caller threatened severe legal consequences, forwarding the call to an impersonator posing as a senior Mumbai police officer. Using intimidation tactics, the accused coerced the victim into transferring a substantial amount under the pretense of “verification” for alleged money laundering and narcotics trafficking.
Modus Operandi
The scam involved a sophisticated “digital house arrest” technique, where the victim was manipulated through continuous voice and video calls via WhatsApp. Impersonating high-ranking officials from various government agencies, such as the Narcotics Department, Cyber Crime Division, and even the Enforcement Directorate, the scammer intimidated the victim with fabricated accusations of illegal activities, including drug trafficking and money laundering. The victim was then coerced into depositing his savings into designated bank accounts for “investigative verification.” Through relentless intimidation, the scammer convinced the victim to transfer Rs 3 crore over two days before he realized he had been defrauded.
Arrest & Seizure
Following a comprehensive investigation and data analysis of the scammer’s bank accounts and communication methods, the STF identified and apprehended the main accused, Manoj from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. The arrest led to the seizure of a mobile handset with an SMS alert-linked SIM card used in the scam. Further inquiry into the accused’s bank account uncovered over 76 complaints across India, along with transactions totaling more than Rs 6 crore.
Team Led by
This high-stakes operation was spearheaded by SSP, STF Uttarakhand, Shri Navneet Singh and his team.
Police Station Name
The investigation and arrest were executed by the Cyber Crime Police Station, Dehradun, underscoring the critical importance of digital awareness and cybersecurity in today’s technology-driven world. The STF has advised the public to report suspicious calls or messages related to such scams to the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or via the online portal at cybercrime.gov.in(http://www.cybercrime.gov.in).