Delhi Police bust digital arrest scam network

India — Delhi Police's Cyber Police Station in South-West District dismantled an interstate cyber-fraud facilitation network involved in 'digital arrest' scams, arresting four operatives from India — Punjab, India and India — Rajasthan. The network specialized in procuring and supplying current bank accounts to overseas-linked fraud operators, who targeted high-profile victims under the guise of law enforcement inquiries. The crackdown followed a complaint from a retired India — Indian Army Colonel who was extorted of Rs 15.50 lakh. The fraudsters posed as police and government officials, sent forged documents including fake India — Enforcement Directorate warrants and RBI directives, and placed the victim and his wife under digital arrest. The investigation traced the money to a Ludhiana bank account and exposed a multi-layered chain involving account holder Sarabjit, intermediary Suraj, bank employee Sandeep, and Naresh Pal alias Lucky, who supplied accounts to fraud rings in Cambodia and the UAE. The beneficiary account was linked to 17 complaints on the India — National Cybercrime Reporting Portal involving fraudulent transactions worth several crores of rupees. Four mobile phones and six SIM cards were recovered.