Srinagar: Cyber Police Kashmir has cracked a case involving a fraudulent scheme where a senior citizen from Srinagar was duped of ₹21 lakh by scammers impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and a central investigative agency. The police have arrested three individuals in connection with the case:
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, Imtiyaz Hussain, addressing a press conference alongside SP Cyber Police Kashmir, Iftikhar Talib, and other officers, according to Srinagar based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com shared details about the case, saying “Cyber Police Kashmir has taken cognizance of a complaint filed by a senior citizen from Srinagar, who was defrauded of an amount of ₹21 lakh by individuals claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and a central investigative agency. Following this, an FIR (No. 26/2024) was registered, and three individuals—Gaurav Kumar from Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, and Gurpreet Singh and Ujwal Chohan from Patiala, Punjab—were arrested.”
“During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused impersonated members of a central agency and falsely accused the victim of involvement in a money laundering case amounting to ₹6–7 crores. They psychologically coerced and manipulated the victim, leading him to transfer ₹21 lakh to their accounts. So far, ₹4 lakh has been recovered and credited back to the victim’s account. Additionally, electronic devices such as mobile phones and hard drives have been seized, and the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
“The Cyber Police appeals to the public to protect themselves from such frauds. It is crucial to educate senior citizens that concepts like ‘digital arrests’ do not exist. These are tactics employed by fraudsters and scammers to exploit innocent and gullible individuals. Avoid sharing OTPs or personal information in response to spam calls, and stay vigilant to prevent falling victim to such scams,” he added.
The arrest and the subsequent recovery have provided relief to the victim and raised awareness about the emerging tactic of “digital arrest fraud.” Cyber Police have reiterated their commitment to tackling such scams and ensuring the safety of the public in the digital space. (KDC)
