Police have urged NRIs and residents alike to remain cautious and verify any such claims through official channels before responding
An Indian-origin youth living in Australia has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud known as a “digital arrest” scam, losing a total of Rs 48 lakh from his bank accounts in Australia and India. The case, described by police as one of the first of its kind, highlights the growing threat of cross-border online fraud targeting non-resident Indians (NRIs).
The incident came to light after the victim’s father, a resident of Ahmedabad, filed a complaint with the city’s Cyber Crime Police Station. An FIR was registered after the family contacted the national cybercrime helpline 1930. The father learnt about the fraud nearly a month after it occurred, when his other son, also based in Australia, informed him.
According to the police complaint, the victim, who lives in Adelaide, initially received a phone call from a woman claiming to be an official from the Indian High Commission. She warned him that an arrest warrant had been issued against him by the Mumbai Police and asked him to contact a given number.
The fraudster claimed to be from the Mumbai Crime Branch and instructed him to join a video call
During the call, fraudsters posing as police officers alleged that a mobile number registered in his name was linked to money laundering and cryptocurrency transactions. He was then connected to individuals introducing themselves as senior officers handling the case. Under constant psychological pressure, the victim was kept on video calls for nearly a week and told not to contact anyone else.
The scammers persuaded him to buy a new phone and SIM card and gained access to his bank accounts under the pretext of verifying funds through the Reserve Bank of India. As a result, around Rs 14 lakh was siphoned from his Australian bank accounts and Rs 34 lakh from his Indian account.
