In a significant crackdown on cyber crime, the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Manoj, the primary suspect in a Rs3 crore digital scam that targeted residents in Dehradun. The operation stemmed from a report by a Rajpur local who received a suspicious call from someone impersonating a FedEx employee. The caller falsely claimed that a parcel, allegedly containing passports and narcotics, had been seized at Mumbai Airport.
Despite the victim’s protests, the caller threatened dire legal repercussions and transferred the call to a fake senior Mumbai police officer. Using fear tactics, the accused coerced the victim into transferring a large sum of money under the guise of “verification” related to alleged money laundering and narcotics trafficking.
This elaborate scam employed a “digital house arrest” strategy, where the victim was subjected to continuous intimidation through WhatsApp calls. The scammer impersonated high-ranking officials from various government agencies, including the Narcotics Department and the Enforcement Directorate. Under pressure, the victim was convinced to deposit his life savings into specified bank accounts for supposed investigative purposes. Over two days, the victim transferred Rs 3 crore before realizing he had been duped.
Thanks to meticulous investigation and data analysis, the STF identified Manoj from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, leading to his arrest and the recovery of a mobile device linked to the scam. An examination of his bank records revealed over 76 complaints nationwide and transactions exceeding Rs6 crore.
This successful operation was led by SSP Navneet Singh and his dedicated team, highlighting the ongoing battle against cyber crime in India.