Over Rs 1cr lost in 'digital arrest' fraud by elderly man recovered by Kochi cyber police

The Kochi city cyber police have successfully recovered over Rs 1.06 crore of the approximately Rs 1.30 crore stolen from an 81‑year‑old man in a “digital arrest” online fraud, officials said on Saturday. The incident, which occurred in November last year , involved fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials who pressured the victim into transferring funds by falsely accusing him of involvement in illegal activities, a scam that has become increasingly common across India.

According to the police statement, the victim received calls from individuals claiming to be from a government agency and was told he was under investigation. The fraudsters used intimidation tactics, including threats of arrest and legal action, to coerce him into transferring money to a specified bank account. Such “digital arrest” scams typically involve fraudsters contacting victims by telephone or messaging platforms, presenting fake official documents and demands for money to avoid alleged criminal consequences.

Upon receiving the complaint, a case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Kochi and the details were immediately uploaded to the National Cyber Crime Portal , enabling swift technical action. Investigators were able to trace the funds to a bank account in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir , and secure a court order to freeze Rs 1,06,27,914 in that account, police said.

The operation was conducted under the direction of Kochi City Deputy Commissioner K S Shahansha IPS , with key contributions from Cyber Crime Police Station Inspector Shemir Khan, ASI Girish Kumar and CPO Robin under the supervision of ACP Anilkumar. With the court order in place, the frozen funds were ultimately returned to the complainant.

Officials emphasised that prompt reporting plays a critical role in cyber fraud investigations. In many cases nationwide, delays in lodging complaints hinder recovery efforts and allow fraudsters to quickly move and launder funds through multiple accounts. Police reiterated that complaints filed through the National Cyber Crime Portal and immediate engagement with cyber crime units significantly increase the chances of retrieving lost money.