PANAJI
In a major breakthrough, the Cyber Crime Police Station of the Goa police arrested a 30-year-old man from Maharashtra for allegedly duping a Cansaulim resident of Rs 2.8 crore through a sophisticated “digital arrest” scam.
The accused, identified as Diwakar Varun Jha, a resident of Taloje Majkur in Raigarh district, Maharashtra, was apprehended following a detailed investigation into the complaint which was filed in mid-October.
Police said, Jha posed as an officer from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and contacted the victim via WhatsApp, falsely claiming that the latter’s Aadhaar number was linked to a money laundering case.
Using fear and intimidation, Jha allegedly coerced the victim into transferring Rs 2.8 crore through four separate RTGS transactions. The victim, believing he was under investigation, complied with the instructions under duress.
During the probe, investigators discovered that Rs 50 lakh from the defrauded amount had been credited to Jha’s bank account, which were subsequently dispersed across multiple accounts of his associates, making the money trail complex and multi-jurisdictional.
Further analysis of the accused’s financial records revealed that his account was linked to at least 11 other cyber fraud cases registered across eight States -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Gujarat. The cumulative value of these frauds is estimated at Rs 7.47 crore.
The arrest marks a significant step in cracking down on the growing menace of “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement or regulatory officials to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
These scams often exploit public fear of legal consequences and use digital platforms like WhatsApp to create a false sense of urgency and legitimacy.
Police officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls or messages claiming to be from government agencies.
“No law enforcement agency will ever demand money or threaten arrest over a phone call or message,” said Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta, IPS, who heads Goa Police's Crime Branch under which the Cyber Crime Police Station functions.
