An elderly couple in Pathanamthitta became victims of ‘virtual arrest’ fraud in which they lost Rs 1.40 crore. The thugs introduced themselves as Mumbai Crime Branch. The police is investigating the matter
Pathanamthitta: An elderly couple in Pathanamthitta lost Rs 1.40 crore in a virtual fraud. 63-year-old Sherly David and her husband David P. Mathew, residents of Mallapalli, have become victims of this virtual fraud. He received a call claiming to be from Mumbai Crime Branch and was misled by saying that he was under ‘virtual arrest’. After this, money was cheated from him in several installments. The couple lives in Abu Dhabi with their family and recently visited their home on the 8th. Keezhwaipur police has registered the case and started investigation.
On the 18th of this month, Sherly David received a call from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as Mumbai Crime Branch and said that he was involved in a crime and was under ‘virtual arrest’. After this he was cheated of money several times. Referring to a phone number, the caller said that this number is in his name and people have filed a case against it, hence he will have to get bail from Chembur police station. He was also threatened that if he did not do so, a warrant would be sent to his local police station and he would be arrested. A minute later, a call came from another number and it was said that Rs 20 lakh had come from Naresh Goyal’s account in his name, so he is an accused in that case also. After this the money was cheated from him.