“Three Arrested in Maharashtra for Rs 23 Lakh ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam”

Three individuals, including a female, have been apprehended in Beed district, Maharashtra, for allegedly scamming a man out of over Rs 23 lakh through the deceptive ‘digital arrest’ method. The suspects, identified as Prasanna Ajay Kasat, Swati Kasat, and Sanket Deepak Beldar, are Jalgaon residents, as per authorities. The trio purportedly targeted Suryakant Munde by posing as law enforcement officers and intimidating him with a digital arrest threat. Investigations revealed that the fraudsters swindled Munde of Rs 23.42, diverting the funds to their own bank accounts. Law enforcement utilized technical analysis to track the culprits, seizing around Rs 3 lakh in cash from them. Additionally, the suspects’ bank accounts were frozen during the investigation. Authorities disclosed that efforts are ongoing to identify other accomplices within the group. These ‘digital arrest’ scams, often preying on elderly and less tech-savvy individuals due to their susceptibility, have been widespread across the nation in recent years. Last year, an 81-year-old retired businessman in Hyderabad fell victim to a similar scam, losing Rs 7.12 crore over two months. In a separate incident this January, Delhi Police arrested two individuals for allegedly duping an elderly doctor couple of nearly Rs 15 crore by threatening them with arrest warrants and false criminal charges.