The cybercrime police have cracked two online fraud cases — including a "digital arrest" scam — with the arrest of two accused from West Bengal, officials said. The victims, both Chandigarh residents, had lost over Rs 32 lakh in total.
Digital Arrest Scam: How the First Victim Was Targeted
In the first case, police arrested Raj Kumar Shaw of Howrah for allegedly extorting Rs 9.51 lakh from a city resident through a "digital arrest" scam. The victim was told over the phone that she was linked to a case of money laundering and human trafficking.
According to the investigation, the victim was made to transfer the money to an account that investigators later traced back to Shaw. He was arrested during a raid in Howrah.
Second Fraud Case: Accused Arrested from South 24 Parganas
In the second case, police arrested Mohammad Umar, a native of Gaya, Bihar, who currently resides in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. He is accused of duping another Chandigarh resident in a separate online fraud case.
The arrests came after detailed investigation by the cybercrime police, who traced the money trail and identified the accused based on bank account records and other digital evidence.
What Is a Digital Arrest Scam?
Digital arrest scams have become a growing concern for law enforcement agencies. In this type of fraud, victims receive phone calls from people posing as law enforcement officials. The callers claim the victim is involved in serious crimes like money laundering or human trafficking.
- The fraudsters create fear and urgency to pressure victims into immediate action
- Victims are told to transfer money to "verify" their innocence or pay fines
- The money is moved quickly through multiple accounts to avoid detection
In this case, the victim was convinced she was linked to criminal activity and complied with the demands, losing Rs 9.51 lakh in the process.
Our Take: Cyber Fraud Needs Stronger Prevention
To put it plainly, these arrests show that police are actively tracking down cyber criminals, even across state borders. The fact that both accused were arrested from West Bengal in connection with crimes against Chandigarh residents shows that law enforcement is willing to pursue cases wherever the trail leads.
But arrests alone are not enough. The bigger issue is prevention. Digital arrest scams work because they exploit fear and confusion. Many people, especially those less familiar with how law enforcement actually operates, can easily fall for these tactics.
In our view, there needs to be more public awareness about how police and courts actually communicate with citizens. No legitimate law enforcement agency asks for money transfers over the phone. If more people knew this simple fact, scams like these would become far less effective.
The recovery of the stolen money is also a concern. While arrests are important, victims like these Chandigarh residents still need to get their money back. The investigation should focus not just on catching the accused, but also on tracing and returning the funds.
