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Dakshina Kannada Farmer Loses Rs 1.31 Crore in Digital Arrest Scam
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News18•12-10-2026, 20:45
Dakshina Kannada Farmer Loses Rs 1.31 Crore in Digital Arrest Scam
- •A 62-year-old farmer from Dakshina Kannada district was duped of Rs 1.31 crore by cybercriminals posing as law enforcement officers.
- •The fraudsters placed the victim under digital arrest from September 2 to October 6, 2026, using WhatsApp video calls.
- •The scammers claimed the farmer had transferred money linked to the Pahalgam terror attack and demanded funds for account verification.
- •The victim transferred Rs 1,31,50,000 via RTGS before realizing he was cheated and contacting the national cybercrime helpline 1930.
- •The Dakshina Kannada Cyber Crime Police Station registered a case under the IT Act and BNS, with investigations currently underway.
Key Questions Answered
A 62-year-old farmer from Dakshina Kannada district was duped of Rs 1.31 crore, specifically transferring a total of Rs 1,31,50,000 through RTGS transactions to bank accounts specified by the fraudsters.
The farmer was allegedly kept under digital arrest from September 2 to October 6, 2026, during which he was threatened through WhatsApp video calls and coerced into transferring funds.
The fraudsters, posing as Mumbai police and Anti-Terrorism Squad officers, told the farmer that the transfers were necessary to verify his bank accounts, establish the legitimacy of his funds, and prove his innocence regarding a false claim.
