Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch has arrested one Abdul Salim (33) from Nizamabad, Telangana, for allegedly defrauding a senior citizen in Berhampur of over ₹1 crore.
Posing as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Mumbai Cyber Crime Division, the accused used threats and deception to carry out the scam.
According to an official press release, the police have recovered a range of items from Salim, including a mobile phone, three SIM cards (one from Saudi Arabia), a passbook, passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and multiple debit and credit cards. Investigators have also discovered Salim’s involvement in over 13 similar cases across the country.
The victim, a senior citizen, was contacted by fraudsters who claimed that an unknown mobile number linked to his Aadhaar card was under investigation for illegal activities, including the purchase of weapons and drugs. The fraudsters falsely alleged that the number was used for threatening calls in Maharashtra.
Using WhatsApp video calls, they threatened the victim with imprisonment of 3 to 7 years and coerced him into transferring his savings to their account under the pretext of “verification.” The victim, under immense mental stress, transferred over ₹1 crore in two installments, believing the money would be returned after verification.
After realizing he was scammed, the victim approached the Crime Branch, which launched an investigation. The probe led to Salim’s arrest, unveiling his history of cyber fraud and his travels to Saudi Arabia in 2017 and 2024, which are now under scrutiny.
The Crime Branch has intensified efforts to identify other accomplices and prevent such scams. Officials have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly.
