Digital arrest scam uncovered; How Kannur cyber police saved a former bank manager | WATCH
Kannur: A digital arrest scam attempt targeting a former bank manager has failed after timely intervention by the cyber police in Kannur. Fraudsters posing as officials from the Data Protection Board of India tried to extort money from Pramod Madhathil, a Thottada native and former senior manager of Bank of India, by staging a fake investigation and threatening legal action.
Pramod received the fraudulent call on Sunday. The callers claimed that a SIM card had been taken and a bank account had been opened in his name at Canara Bank, Mumbai, and that documents allegedly recovered by the NIA during the arrest of a Popular Front of India activist included a credit card issued in his name. They sent him a fake FIR, Aadhaar details and SIM information as “evidence” and warned of action unless he complied. Suspecting cyber fraud, Pramod and his wife immediately alerted the Kannur City Cyber Police.
The fraudsters demanded a video call at 11.30 am on Monday. By then, the cyber police team had reached Pramod’s residence. When Pramod joined the call, a man dressed as a police officer appeared, speaking Malayalam and attempting to legitimise the fraud. The caller claimed biometric verification was not required for institutional SIM cards and that Aadhaar alone was sufficient, trying to justify the fabricated case.
Without raising suspicion, cyber police officers discreetly monitored the interaction and intervened at the right moment, successfully foiling the digital arrest scam. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. Police commended Pramod and his wife for promptly reporting the incident.
A team led by Cyber Police Station SI S V Mithun, along with officers V Prakashan, M Shamit, P K Dijin and Sujith, coordinated the operation. Cyber police clarified that there is no legal provision for “digital arrest” in India, urging the public to stay alert to rising cybercrime attempts.
During the call, Pramod calmly questioned the caller about widespread online scams, saying he had doubts due to frequent news reports of cyber frauds, but the scammers failed to respond convincingly, further exposing the deception.