Bengaluru man placed under arrest for 6 days loses Rs 14 Lakh to telecom scam: Here’s what happened

A cybercrime The incident in Bangalore has highlighted the growing threat of sophisticated scams targeting unsuspecting individuals. According to a Deccan Herald report, a 29-year-old businessman was the victim of a telecom hack and CBI Identity Theft scam, losing a staggering Rs 14 lakh.

Here’s what happened

The victim received a call on September 25 from an individual claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The caller accused the victim of being linked to illegal activities, including money laundering.
After Pareek repeatedly informed the caller that it was not his phone number, the caller transferred the call to the ‘CBI office in Mumbai’. The new caller then claimed to be a CBI agent but refused to disclose his identity.
The fraudsters then employed a tactic known as “digital arrest” to further manipulate the victim. They claimed that an HDFC bank account, allegedly opened in his name, was used for a suspicious transaction of $6 million (60 lakh). They further threatened him with constant surveillance, creating a sense of urgency and fear.
To boost the scam’s legitimacy, the fraudsters allegedly asked the victim to download the messaging app Signal for a “video statement,” a tactic often seen in digital arrest scams. Following this, they pressured him to transfer 80% of his bank balance to a supposedly secure ‘RBI account’ for verification.
The victim then transferred a total of Rs 14.57 lakh between September 25 and October 2. The deception only came to light when he reported the incident to authorities on October 3, leading to a complaint and investigation.

Tips to stay safe:

– Do not share personal information or transfer funds based on unsolicited calls or messages.
– Verify information directly with the relevant organization, not via telephone numbers provided by the caller.
– Be wary of tactics that create a sense of urgency or fear.
– Report suspicious incidents to authorities immediately.