Another ‘digital arrest’ victim loses Rs 19 lakh after cyber bullies blame him for money laundering

Lucknow: A 58-year-old doctor was put under ‘digital arrest' and forced to pay Rs 19 lakh to the cyber bullies who alleged that his name had figured in a case of money laundering.The victim, Mukul Sonkar of Vipul Khand, Gomtinagar, received a call on Sep 17 on his WhatsApp number from an unknown mobile number. The caller introduced himself as Inspector Pradeep Sawant from Mumbai, associated with the RBI.After taking his Aadhaar number and account details, he told the victim that a case of money laundering was registered in his name and his bank accounts had to be investigated. For the said investigation, he was instructed to transfer the amount from all his accounts to the bank accounts provided by them.The victim said he was assured of the money being returned after the investigation concluded. He was also told that the investigation was confidential and he should not contact anyone until it was completed.The miscreant and his aides continuously communicated with the victim through WhatsApp video calls and chats, stating that until the investigation was completed, he would remain under their surveillance."In this way, by digitally arresting me, they demanded Rs 19.3 lakh from me. As per their instructions, I transferred Rs 9.3 lakh to a bank account number given by them and then again transferred Rs 10 lakh to another bank account provided by them," he said.The victim said he has not received any refund after his digital arrest and the miscreants were demanding more money from him.He mentioned that he had also complained to the cyber cell. The police registered a case and started the investigation.SHO, Cyber Cell, Brijesh Yadav, said that an FIR was registered and a probe was being conducted.Recently, the STF Uttar Pradesh had arrested as many as 16 miscreants, including some techies, professional cyber thugs and a woman, said to be the leader of the gang in connection with defrauding a woman associate professor of SGPGIMS.