Fake arrest threat: Duo loses Rs 3.5 crore online in Kolkata

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Police are investigating two cases where two victims — a CFO of a start-up and a son of a businessman — were targeted for Rs 3.1 crore by placing fake claims that they would be arrested in cybercrime cases by Delhi Police. Two persons have been arrested from Haryana in this regard by the city police.
In the first case involving the businessman’s son, the caller, who identified himself as a Delhi Police officer, said a courier addressed to him had been intercepted en route and found to contain banned drugs.He said both the Delhi Police and NIA had started a probe and a police team was coming to Kolkata to arrest him.
The victim insisted he had not ordered anything. The fraudsters then sent him a photo of a packet via WhatsApp, along with a digital arrest memo, which made him anxious. He asked what he needed to do to avoid trouble. The fraudsters demanded Rs 3 crore.
Following their instructions, he transferred the money to the account they provided. When they asked for more money, the young man realized he had fallen into a trap.
He filed a complaint with cybercrime PS at Lalbazar. During probe, cops traced the money to two accounts in Haryana. They conducted a raid and arrested two individuals. The search for the rest of the gang members is on.
In the second case, a woman CFO ended up paying Rs 51,000, when she was threatened in the name of Delhi Police. “This time the caller claimed the woman had multiple accounts and that one account was used to park money from criminal proceedings,” said an officer.
Bidhannagar Police, too, has nabbed a person from Eco Park area for allegedly duping an investor by promising good returns.