An international dimension has been revealed in a digital arrest scam that was recently uncovered by a special investigative team through an undercover operation. The scheme involved fraudsters contacting a reporter and falsely claiming that a parcel containing 400 grams of drugs in his name had been seized, attempting to extort money.
Investigations into the case have shown that these scams have links across multiple countries, with digital evidence tracing back to Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.
The findings indicated that funds obtained through the scam were funneled and withdrawn in Cambodia and Dubai, with Indian workers employed by private firms participating in these cross-border fraudulent activities.
The scam typically targets Indian job seekers with misleading foreign job offers, ultimately trapping them as digital operatives or “digital slaves” engaged in illegal actions.
A collaborative effort among various agencies is underway to trace and dismantle the networks involved in these digital arrest scams.
The investigation began when a fake representative from a courier company contacted the reporter, alleging that a parcel containing illegal drugs had been seized in Mumbai.
Through a series of intimidating calls from individuals posing as police officers and agents from the Enforcement Directorate, the scammers demanded sensitive information and a payment of Rs 10 lakh as a “guarantee.”
