Nagaon: In a major breakthrough against cybercrime, the Goa Police conducted a special operation in the Nagaon district of central Assam to track down a notorious cybercrime racket involved in large-scale financial fraud in the name of digital arrest (Digital Arrest Scam Assam).
A police team led by Goa Police Inspector Vikas Jaykar, with active cooperation from the Nagaon Police, carried out intensive searches and investigations in the district and achieved significant success. With the assistance of the Nagaon Police, the Goa Police arrested two cyber criminals involved in cheating victims of nearly Rs.1.42 crore through fraudulent digital arrest schemes (Digital Arrest Fraud).
According to Inspector Vikas Jaykar, the accused were involved in a cyber fraud case registered in Goa, in which victims were threatened with so-called digital arrest and coerced into transferring Rs.1.42 crore. Based on leads obtained during the investigation, the Goa Police Crime Branch initiated an operation in the Nagaon district (Goa Police Operation).
A special team, headed by senior-rank officers of the Goa Police, camped in Nagaon and conducted discreet surveillance and raids. With the cooperation of Nagaon Sadar Police Station In-Charge Devajit Das, the team identified Yesmina Ahmed of Shimaluguri and Achhadul Islam of Itapara, both under Nagaon Sadar Police Station, as being directly involved in the fraud. The duo was subsequently arrested (Cyber Crime Assam).
Police stated that the arrested persons were part of a cybercrime network that cheated victims of approximately Rs.1.42 crore by posing as law enforcement or central agency officials. The gang used phone calls and WhatsApp video calls, impersonating police officers, cybercrime officials, or officers of central agencies, to intimidate victims and extort money (Nagaon Cyber Crime).
It may be noted that in December, the Nagaon Police had earlier arrested Yesmina Ahmed and Achhadul Islam along with two other cybercrime accused in connection with similar cases.
After their arrest on Thursday, the Goa Police produced Yesmina Ahmed and Achhadul Islam before a Nagaon court and later took them to Goa for further interrogation and investigation. Inspector Jaykar also indicated that more individuals may be involved in this cybercrime racket.
What Is ‘Digital Arrest’?
Although there is no legal provision called “digital arrest” in Indian law, cyber criminals use the term as a fraudulent tactic. In such scams, criminals contact victims via phone or video calls, falsely identifying themselves as officers from the police, CBI, ED, or cybercrime units. They threaten victims by claiming that a case has been registered against them and that they have been digitally arrested, demanding large sums of money.
By creating an atmosphere of fear, criminals force victims to transfer money to specific bank accounts or share sensitive personal information.
It is important to note that digital arrest has no legal validity in India, and any such calls or demands are entirely fraudulent.
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