Retired SMO in Amritsar loses Rs 23 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ scam

A 76-year-old retired Senior Medical Officer (SMO) from Amritsar fell victim to a cyber-fraud, losing Rs 23 lakh to scammers posing as law enforcement officers from Mumbai. The incident occurred on December 5, 2024, and a case was registered after a preliminary probe.

The victim received a WhatsApp call from the scammers, who claimed he was involved in a money laundering case at Tilak Nagar Andheri police station in Mumbai. Despite the victim’s denial, the scammers convinced him to share his bank account details and transfer Rs 23 lakh to an educational and charitable trust in Karnataka.