Bengaluru: Cyber fraudsters virtually hold a bizman captive for 3 days, dupe him of Rs 1.98 crore

A 46-year-old businessman in the city was virtually held captive by cyber fraudsters for three days, during which they duped him of Rs 1.98 crore.

The fraudsters, posing as Mumbai Crime Branch sleuths, coerced Manish by falsely claiming that a FedEx courier registered in his name contained illegal drugs.

Presenting themselves in uniform during a video call, the cybercriminals convinced Manish that he was under the surveillance of the crime branch. They insisted he stay on the call until they completed supposed formalities related to the alleged drug-containing courier. Subsequently, they threatened to arrest him unless he transferred money to their designated bank account. The prolonged three-day call led to multiple transfers as the fraudsters directed Manish to send money to avoid arrest.

After the initial payment, the fraudsters, feigning assistance, continued communicating with Manish until a total of Rs 1.98 crore was transferred, leaving only Rs 500 in his bank account. When Manish's family members discovered the online transactions, they advised him to terminate the video call. It was only at this point that Manish realized he had fallen victim to cybercrime.

CK Baba, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-East) Division, reportedly warned that cyber fraudsters often exploit victims by impersonating law enforcement officials. He advised people in such situations to visit their local police station for verification and emphasized the importance of timely reporting. A case has been registered by the South-East CEN police, and further investigations are underway.