Photo: Gerd Altmann | Pixabay
Delhi Police has arrested four individuals — Dinesh Singadhiya, Prashant Verma, Prakash Choudhary, and Gajendra Kumar — involved in a sophisticated digital arrest scam, where a victim was coerced into transferring Rs 44.50 lakh under the pretence of a criminal investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Dinesh Singadhiya is a DJ helper and daily wage worker from Jaipur. Prashant Verma is a Jaipur-based DJ who aided in setting up fake bank accounts. Prakash Chaudhary is a college dropout who acted as a money launderer, and Gajendra Kumar assisted in cash withdrawals, reports The420.
The fraud came to light when Virender Kumar Indora, a resident of Mayur Vihar Phase-1, lodged a complaint detailing how an imposter, claiming to be a CBI officer, accused him of criminal activities and threatened legal action. Under pressure, Indora transferred Rs. 44.50 lakh to various accounts linked to the fraudsters.
A forensic audit of the financial transactions led police to a private bank account belonging to Dinesh Singadhiya where 38 lakh was transferred. The money was quickly withdrawn via cheque, setting off alarms for investigators.
Following intensive tracking, police teams raided Jaipur, arresting Singadhiya. His interrogation revealed the existence of a broader cyber fraud network. This led to the subsequent arrest of Prashant Verma.
Further probing pointed investigators towards Prakash Choudhary, a crucial operative linked to the mastermind, Mahesh Nehra. Finally, authorities apprehended another suspect, Gajender Kumar, from his rented house in Rajasthan’s Juchaman City.
Investigators disclosed that the arrested suspects operated under the guidance of international cybercrime syndicates. Their primary role was facilitating fund transfers through various channels, including cheques and ATMs, before diverting the money to their overseas handlers.
In recent years, the menace of digital scams has been increasing in India. Last month, a Noida family fell prey to a Rs 1.10 crore digital arrest scam. Similarly, a woman in Gujarat loses over Rs 10 lakh in the scam.
Moreover, several international fraudsters are trying their hands on the digital arrest scam. In January, Nepal-based scam calls mimicked TRAI officials threatening digital arrests.
Recently, a BSF inspector fell prey to what is known as the longest digital arrest scam lasting about a month. To combat digital arrest, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered a crackdown on SIM fraud.
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