look news india
Bhopal, 13 November (HS). The second incident of digital house arrest has come to light in the capital Bhopal within four days. Cyber criminals kept a telecom company engineer digitally imprisoned in his own house for six hours. He was intimidated and threatened and kept under surveillance in a room. On Wednesday afternoon, the Crime Branch took him and his family out of the house. The engineer and his family were so scared that they did not come out of the house even after the cyber criminals’ video call was disconnected. The thugs had asked him to remain under their surveillance 24 hours. The thugs were even able to know whose call was coming on his mobile. Because of this he was not able to answer anyone’s call.
Additional DCP Crime Branch Shailendra Singh Chauhan said that Pramod Kumar (38), resident of Gayatri Nagar, Kararia, is a field engineer in a private telecom company. A call came on his mobile at 4.15 pm on Tuesday evening. The caller, introducing himself as an EOW officer, said that a large-scale online transaction of money has taken place in different bank accounts from your number. Your number should not be switched off. I am from Mumbai. In case of switching off the number, arrest will be made from Bhopal. The thugs already had many information saved in Pramod’s mobile.
He told that shortly after the first call was disconnected, Pramod received a video call from the second number. As soon as the call was received, three people in police uniform were seen on the screen. He introduced himself as an officer of Mumbai Crime Branch. Said that a ransom has been demanded from a person from your number. When Pramod tried to present his side, he was threatened. Said that for the crime you have committed, there is a fine of Rs 3.50 lakh and a jail sentence of two years. While talking to Pramod, the thugs obtained complete information from him. Meanwhile, the calls that were coming on waiting on his mobile were also known to the thugs as to whose calls they were. Pramod became even more nervous due to this.
The thugs told them that we were going to arrest you with the help of the local police. Looks like a nice man. If you want to escape, you will have to stay under our surveillance for 24 hours. He agreed to this. At the behest of the accused, he locked himself in a room. Remained under surveillance of thugs till 11.30 pm. Later the accused themselves disconnected the call.
Due to fear, Pramod did not pick up anyone’s call till 11.30 am on Wednesday. Did not even attend office meeting. Then his boss Pradeep called him. Despite several calls, he did not pick up the call. Then Pradeep reached his house fearing something untoward. Pramod refused to open the gate. In such a situation, his boss informed the matter to Bhopal Crime Branch. Police reached the spot and rescued Pramod. Told them that they were being cheated. After the police’s advice, he became normal and came out of the house with his wife and children.
53 people of Madhya Pradesh became victims of digital arrest in one and a half year, defrauded of Rs 17 crore
Earlier, the Cyber Police had saved a businessman who was digitally arrested in Bhopal four days ago from fraud by freeing him from the live surveillance of the thugs. In Gwalior too, a retired officer escaped becoming a victim of swindlers by getting digital arrested. By showing similar prudence, 53 other people in the state could also have avoided the fraud. In one and a half years, cyber thugs defrauded them of approximately Rs 17 crore. However, about Rs 5 crore of these has been held by the police, which means the victims will get this amount after verification from everywhere. One and a half crore rupees have also been recovered.
ADG Cyber Yogesh Deshmukh says that if the victim gives timely information then it becomes easier to get the amount held. Let us tell you that this year the amount defrauded in cyber fraud cases in Madhya Pradesh has reached Rs 385 crore. Till July this figure was Rs 300 crore. In the first 10 months of this year, five lakh complaints of cyber crime have been received, which is the highest till date.
Cyber Headquarters officials said that 30 accused have been arrested so far. These accused are from Bihar, Rajasthan, and other states of South India. Other accused are being searched. The victims of fraud also include doctors, college professors, company secretaries and businessmen.
Officials said that the easiest way of cheating is that the fraudsters tell people that some crime has been committed through their SIM. Show fear of arrest and sending to jail. People get scared by this. The fraudsters transfer the money to their account after taking complete information related to the bank. One should call cyber crime helpline number 1930 without any fear.