Ex-Judge, 90, Duped Of Rs 2.5 Crore In 'Digital Arrest' Cyber Scam In Jaipur

A 90-year-old former district judge in Jaipur was allegedly cheated out of Rs 2.5 crore in a sophisticated cyber scam involving a prolonged period of so-called "digital arrest." According to police, the victim received a WhatsApp video call from a fraudster dressed in a police uniform who claimed to be a Central Bureau of Investigation officer from Mumbai. The caller alleged that a massive hawala transaction had been linked to the retired judge's bank account, threatening him with immediate arrest and strict secrecy under threat of severe legal consequences.

During the ordeal lasting about 15 days, another scammer posed as a Reserve Bank of India manager, convincing the elderly man to share details of his mutual funds and other financial investments under the guise of an ongoing inquiry. The perpetrators directed the victim to transfer money to various bank accounts through multiple transactions. To prevent detection, the callers instructed the victim to delete all WhatsApp chats, call logs, and messages after every interaction, successfully isolating him from his family members.

The multi-crore fraud ultimately came to light due to the vigilance of a bank manager at a State Bank of India branch in Jaipur. When the victim attempted to transfer additional funds from his Public Provident Fund account, the manager intervened, questioned the customer, and identified the signs of cyber fraud. The victim then reached out to his nephew, who officially lodged a police complaint at the Jyoti Nagar police station. Authorities have since registered a case and initiated an ongoing investigation.

Not yet reported: The articles do not mention the identities or locations of the cyber criminals behind the operation.