Bhubaneswar, Nov 7: In a shocking cybercrime incident, a senior citizen from Bhubaneswar was defrauded of Rs 1.5 crore by online fraudsters who allegedly held him in a "digital arrest" for 10 days. The victim, intimidated by threats from cybercriminals posing as Customs Department officials, complied with their demands, fearing he was implicated in a money-laundering case.

Authorities revealed that the fraudsters initially contacted the senior citizen, claiming his money was involved in illegal activities and that he was under investigation. Over the course of 10 days, the victim was coerced into transferring large sums of money in two separate phases, totaling Rs 1.5 crore.

In the first phase, the victim reportedly lost Rs 70 lakh, followed by another Rs 80 lakh in the second phase. After the victim filed a complaint, the Cybercrime Police took swift action and were able to freeze Rs 12 lakh of the defrauded amount.

The police have urged the public, particularly senior citizens, to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls or messages from unknown individuals claiming to be government officials. Authorities have advised verifying such communications through official channels and refraining from sharing sensitive personal or banking information online.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the increasing threat of cyber fraud in the city, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness to prevent such financial crimes.