Berhampur University VC loses ₹14 lakh in ‘digital arrest’ scam

Berhampur University Vice Chancellor Geetanjali Dash was alleged defrauded of ₹14 lakh by a cybercriminal who, impersonated as an ED officer, put her under "digital arrest".

Dash had received a phone call on Feb 12 from someone claiming to be an ED officer. He alleged that she was involved in an ED case as crores of rupees were deposited in a bank account in her name.

The caller said she was digitally arrested and demanded ₹14 lakh to release her. She has obliged and sent the money to an account mentioned by the fraudster.

A case was registered in the cyber police station here after the vice chancellor lodged a complaint on Feb 24, said SP (Berhampur) Saravan Vivek.

The SP said that an investigation was going on and the fraudsters involved in the case would be detected soon.

When contacted, the VC said the caller who was speaking in English also talked about her family. She was told that as a case was going on against her, she needs to empty her bank account for an audit.

To gain her trust, they refunded ₹80,000 to her account the next day and the remaining amount would be refunded in phases. As the caller became incommunicado later, she understood she had been cheated and lodged an FIR, she said.

(PTI)