The cybercrime unit of Hyderabad Police arrested a software professional from Uttar Pradesh for his involvement in a multi-State digital arrest fraud racket that duped a senior citizen of nearly ₹20 lakh.
The accused, identified as Ranjit Kumar, 42, was arrested from Ghaziabad. Originally hailing from Parigami village in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, Kumar was allegedly operating as an account supplier for the fraud network. He reportedly managed bank accounts that were used to siphon funds from unsuspecting victims. Investigations revealed he was involved in four cases across India, including two in Telangana.
The latest case that led to his arrest involved a 72-year-old retired government employee from Hyderabad. According to the police, the victim received a phone call from a person posing as an official from Mumbai airport, who claimed that a parcel addressed to him and allegedly bound for Iran had been intercepted by ‘FedEx’ and found to contain narcotic drugs.
The caller then redirected the elderly man to someone pretending to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch, who further connected him to another individual claiming to be a Government of India official. The scammers accused the victim of being linked to multiple suspicious bank accounts across several States. Fearing legal consequences, the man was coerced into transferring ₹19,61,045 to a bank account allegedly operated by the accused.
Explaining the modus operandi, police said fraudsters typically initiate contact through social media platforms, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Skype, often impersonating officials from agencies such as the CBI, ED, CID, or TRAI. Victims are threatened with fabricated charges ranging from money laundering to terrorism and are told they must cooperate by depositing money for verification purposes — supposedly under orders from high-ranking institutions like the Reserve Bank of India or even the Supreme Court. Once the funds are transferred, the fraudsters immediately sever all contact.
During the arrest, police seized a mobile phone and an IDBI Bank cheque book from Kumar’s possession. Officials said the investigation is ongoing to identify other members of the network and uncover the full extent of the fraud operation.
Published – April 10, 2025 07:06 pm IST
